FFAIRS CURRENT - WINMEEN · Here, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and two women Public Interest Litigators (PIL) Arundhati Katju and Menaka Guruswamy have been featured

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winmeen.com 2019 MAY 01

CURRENT AFFAIRS 1

CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. Who is the author of the “Politics of Jugaad: The Coalition Handbook”?

A] Saba Naqvi

B] Madhu Trehan

C] Shereen Bhan

D] Patricia Mukhim

The “Politics of Jugaad: The Coalition Handbook” has been authored by journalist Saba Naqvi. In it, the author examined the possibility of a coalition government after 2019 Lok Sabha polls. It traces the history of political alliances in the country taking into account their performance on economic and and social policies, among others. The book also makes a study of the Congress “tryst with dynasty" with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra taking a plunge into active politics for the party helmed by her brother Rahul Gandhi.

2. The Belt and Road Forum (BRF - 2019) was recently held in which of the following Chinese cities?

A] Tianjin

B] Shanghai

C] Beijing

D] Hangzhou

In China, the 2nd edition of Belt and Road Forum (BRF - 2019) was officially held in Beijing with theme “Belt and Road Cooperation: Shaping a Brighter Shared Future”. In it, 37 heads-of-state and 159 countries had participated along with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and International Monetary Chief (IMF) Christine Lagarde.

The BRF is part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The aim of BRI is to reinvent the ancient Silk Road to connect Asia to Europe and Africa through massive investments in maritime, road and rail projects. The initiative offers to bring much-needed modern infrastructure to developing countries, but critics say it mainly favours Chinese companies. The idea of BRI was first proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.

3. Who will become the first Indian wrestler to fight at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York?

A] Ravinder Singh

B] Bajrang Punia

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CURRENT AFFAIRS 2

C] Pawan Kumar

D] Sangram Singh

Bajrang Punia is set to become the first Indian wrestler to fight at iconic Madison Square Garden in New York. Punia, who won the 65kg men’s freestyle gold at the recent 2019 Asian championships, will be among top wrestlers selected by the American governing body for the May 6 tournament.

4. Which IIT has developed an easy OCR system for reading Bharti script?

A] IIT Delhi

B] IIT Kanpur

C] IIT Madras

D] IIT Bombay

Dr. Srinivasa Chakravathy and his team at IIT Madras has developed a unified script for nine Indian languages, named the Bharati script. The team has developed a method for reading documents in Bharati script using a multi-lingual Optical Character Recognition (OCR) scheme. The team has also created a finger-spelling method that can be used to generate a sign language for hearing-impaired persons.

In collaboration with TCS Mumbai, the researchers have found a way for persons with hearing disability to generate signatures using this finger-spelling technique. The scripts that have been integrated include Devnagari, Bengali, Gurmukhi, Gujarati, Oriya, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Tamil. Here, it must be noted that Urdu and English alphabet systems have a very different phonetic organisation. But that does not mean a mapping is not possible.

5. On which date, the 2019 World Day for Safety and Health at Work is observed recently?

A] April 28

B] April 30

C] April 29

D] April 27

The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is observed every year on 28th of April by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to promote safe, healthy and decent work. The day marks the need and awareness of a safe and healthy environment at the workplace.



CURRENT AFFAIRS 3

6. The researchers at which Indian university have developed an ultrasensitive quantum thermometer?

A] Osmania University

B] Aligarh Muslim University

C] Jamia Millia Islamia

D] Azim Premji University

The researchers at Jamia Millia Islamia (New Delhi) have developed an ultrasensitive quantum thermometer using graphene quantum dots. The thermometer can precisely measure a wide range of temperature: 27°C to –196°C. It has high sensitivity when measuring different temperatures and can measure very minute (micro Kelvin) changes in temperature.

It showed extremely quick response time of just about 300 milliseconds to register a change in temperature from 27°C to –196°C. And, the time taken to return to its initial temperature value was as little as about 800 milliseconds. The thermometer is developed by a team led by Prof. Saikh S. Islam, Director of the Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. The results of the study were published in the journal Nanoscale Advances.

7. The first-ever International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace has recently observed on which date?

A] April 25

B] April 24

C] April 23

D] April 22

The United Nations General Assembly has officially celebrated the first-ever International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace on 24th April 2019 for the international observance. The day is a reaffirmation of the UN Charter and its principles of resolving disputes among countries through peaceful means. It acknowledges the use of multilateral decision-making and diplomacy in achieving peaceful resolutions to conflicts among nations.

8. Who is the head of the committee to review the Economic Capital Framework for the RBI?

A] Subhash Chandra Garg

B] Hasmukh Adhia

C] Bimal Jalan



CURRENT AFFAIRS 4

The six-member expert committee led by former RBI governor Bimal Jalan was appointed on December 26, 2018 to review the Economic Capital Framework (ECF) for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). It is in news recently because the Jalan panel is likely to submit its report by June 2019. The panel is expected to spell out details regarding how the RBI should handle its reserves and whether it can transfer its surplus to the government.

The report is also expected to detail the amount the central bank should transfer to the government. The terms of reference of the committee would be to review status, need and justification of various provisions, reserves and buffers presently provided for by the RBI.

9. Who clinched the 2019 men’s singles title at the Barcelona Open Tennis tournament?

A] Dominic Thiem

B] Rafael Nadal

C] Alexander Zverev

D] Daniil Medvedev

Dominic Thiem clinched the 2019 men's singles title at the Barcelona Open Tennis tournament. In the final, he defeated Daniil Medvedev by 6-4, 6-0 at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain. With this feat, Thiem has become the first Austrian to take the Barcelona title since Thomas Muster in 1996.

10. Which of the following cricketers has been recommended for 2019 Arjuna Award?

A] Virat Kohli

B] Yuzvendra Chahal

C] Poonam Yadav

D] Mithali Raj

The BCCI recommended Indian pacers Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and women’s team spinner Poonam Yadav for the 2019 Arjuna award. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) in New Delhi. Bumrah is a regular across all three formats of cricket for the country.

Pacer Shami has been a crucial cog in the Indian bowling set up. All-rounder Jadeja has also made a comeback in the limited overs team and has been named in the 15-member squad for the World Cup. Poonam, is the 4th name to be nominated for the coveted award. She has picked up 63 wickets from 41 ODIs and 74 wickets from 54 T20 games.



CURRENT AFFAIRS 1

CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. Who has been named the 2019 footballer of the year by the Football Writers’ Association?

A] Lionel Messi

B] Raheem Sterling

C] Neymar

D] Francesco Totti

Raheem Sterling, the Manchester City and England forward, has been named the 2019 footballer of the year by the Football Writers’ Association (FWA). He topped the poll of the 400-strong FWA membership as a clear winner, with 62% of the votes.

2. Who has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of Indian Air Force (IAF)?

A] Om Prakash Mehra

B] Anil Khosla

C] Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria

D] Dilbagh Singh

Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of Indian Air Force (IAF). He succeeded Air Marshal Anil Khosla. Prior to this post, Bhadauria was head of IAF’s Bengaluru-based Training Command. He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Air Force on June 15, 1980 with the Sword of Honour.

He went on to hold several important positions such as Commandant of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Senior Air Staff Officer at the Central Air Command and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff from January 2016 to February 28, 2017. Bhadauria served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Southern Air Command from March 1, 2017. He took over as the chief of the Bengaluru-based Training Command on August 1, 2018.

3. Which of the following Indians is / are included in the Time’s 100 Most Influential People List 2019?

A] Arundhati Katju

B] Menaka Guruswamy

C] Mukesh Ambani

D] All of the above




CURRENT AFFAIRS 2

The Time 100 Most Influential People 2019 list named the world's most influential pioneers, leaders, titans, artists and icons of the year. The list includes Indian-American comedian and TV host Hasan Minhaj, US President Donald Trump, Pope Francis, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, iconic golfer Tiger Woods and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Here, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and two women Public Interest Litigators (PIL) Arundhati Katju and Menaka Guruswamy have been featured by TIME magazine in its prestigious list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Arundhati & Menaka led the legal battle for LGBTQ rights in India.

4. Pungam Kannan, who passed away recently, was the well-known player of which sports?

A] Football

B] Hockey

C] Basketball

D] Carrom

Pungam Kannan (80), the former Indian footballer, has passed away at Kolkata, West Bengal. Born in Vandavasi in Tamil Nadu, Kannan played 14 matches for India & was the former Mohun Bagan & East Bengal forward. He won Santosh Trophy for Bengal twice in a row (1971-73). It was legendary German coach Dettmar Cramer who had given him the best appreciation by calling him ‘Pele of Asia’ in 1968 when he was invited by the AIFF to conduct two-week coaching in Mumbai.

5. On which date, the 2019 International Dance Day is observed recently?

A] April 28

B] April 30

C] April 29

D] April 27

The International Dance Day (IDD) is observed every year on April 29 to recognise the value of the art form across the world. It marks the birth anniversary of French dancer Jean-Georges Noverre (1727–1810), the creator of modern ballet. The day was created by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), the main partner for the performing arts of UNESCO.

This day is a celebration day for those who can see the value and importance of the art form “dance”, and acts as a wake-up-call for governments, politicians and institutions which have not yet recognised its value to the people and to the individual and have not yet realised its potential for economic growth.



CURRENT AFFAIRS 3

6. Which Indian company has acquired Filipino personal care firm ‘Splash’?

A] Infosys

B] Tata

C] Wipro

D] Reliance

Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting (WCCL) has acquired the Philippines-based personal care maker Splash Corporation for an undisclosed amount to enter the country which has a consumer base of around 100 million. The acquisition strengthens Wipro’s consumer care portfolio in personal care and strengthens its South-East Asian market footprint.

Splash is the largest Filipino personal care player and amongst Top 5 in the Philippines market. This is Wipro’s 11th consumer business acquisition, and the 9th in the personal care segment. Other Wipro consumer acquisitions include UK’s Yardley, Singapore-based personal-care company LD Waxson Unza Holdings and China’s Zhongshan and a lot more. The company has made five acquisitions in the Indian market in the consumer line business.

7. Which Indian golfer has won the outstanding achievement as a player award at the 4th edition of the annual India Golf Industry Association (GIA) awards?

A] Shiv Kapur

B] Gaganjeet Bhullar

C] Anirban Lahiri

D] Rashid Khan

Arjuna awardee and star Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar won the ‘Outstanding achievement as a player award’ at the 4th edition of the annual India Golf Industry Association (GIA) awards at the Delhi Golf Club. The GIA awards were held along with the 8th India Golf & Turf Expo (IGTE), South Asia’s largest golf trade show. Bhullar won the 2018 Fiji International, a European Tour event, and also holds the rare distinction of becoming the youngest golfer on the Asian Tour to achieve nine career victories on tour.

8. Which country has launched the 45-day ‘Mt Everest Cleaning Campaign’?

A] China

B] India

C] Nepal



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The Government of Nepal has launched an ambitious 45-day ‘Everest Cleaning Campaign’ to bring back tonnes of trash from Mt. Everest from 14th April 2019. The campaign is led by Solukhumbu district’s Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality and aims to collect nearly 10,000 kgs of garbage from Mt. Everest.

Every year, hundreds of climbers make their way to Everest, leaving behind tonnes of wastes including empty oxygen canisters, kitchen waste, beer bottles and faecal matter - on the highest peak, which has lately acquired notoriety as the “world’s highest garbage dump”. The campaign will conclude on May 29, the day marked every year to commemorate the first summit of Everest by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953.

The collected waste will then be showcased in Namche town, before being ferried down to Kathmandu, where it will once again be showcased on World Environment Day (WED-2019) on June 5. After that, it will finally be sent out for recycling.

9. IGNOU has launched an awareness programme on GST in collaboration with which stock exchange?

A] NSE

B] OTCEI

C] BSE

D] ISE

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has launched an awareness programme on Goods and Services Tax (GST) in collaboration with Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Institute Limited to help small scale businesses. The purpose of the GST programme is to impart basic knowledge and skills required to fulfil various requirements under the GST Act.

It would be beneficial to people who are engaged in maintaining accounts and filing of various indirect tax returns. Those who have passed Class 12 are eligible for the course, which will be offered in January and July cycle of admissions.

10. Which of the following cities has set a new Guinness World Record for the number of national flags raised in a city for 24 hours?

A] Beirut

B] Riyadh

C] Abu Dhabi

D] Manama



CURRENT AFFAIRS 5

Beirut, the national capital of Lebanon, has set a new Guinness World Record for the number of national flags raised in a city for 24 hours. On 28th April 2019, a total of 26,852 Lebanese flags were raised & beat a record held by New York’s Waterloo since 2000. The event was organized by the Beirut Alive Association (BAA) under the patronage of Prime Minister Saad Hariri.



CURRENT AFFAIRS 1

CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. Claire Polosak, who became the first female umpire to stand in a men's ODI, is from which country?

A] West Indies

B] South Africa

C] New Zealand

D] Australia

Claire Polosak from Australia created history by becoming the first female umpire to stand in a men's One-Day International (ODI). On 27th April 2019, she has officiated the final of the World Cricket League Division 2, between Oman and Namibia, who both secured ODI status after finishing in the top two positions of the table.

In all, Polosak has officiated 15 women’s ODIs, and was part of the team that stood in the 2018 ICC T20 Women’s World Cup, including in the semi-final between England and India. She also officiated in four matches at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017.

2. What is the theme of the 2019 International Labour Day?

A] Celebrating the International Labour Movement

B] Let’s value work by providing the jobless with start-up capital support

C] Sustainable Pension for all: The Role of Social Partners

D] Uniting Workers for Social and Economic Advancement

The International Labour Day is celebrated every year on 1st of May to honour the contribution of working men and women. The day aims to pay tribute to workers sacrifices in achieving economic and social rights all over the world. During industrialization at the beginning of the 19th Century, the industrialists used to exploit the labour class and made them work up to 15 hours a day.

The workers rose against this exploitation and demanded paid leaves, proper wages and breaks for the workforce. Hence, the day marks the victory of the workers' movement for eight hours of work. In India, the first Labour Day or May Day was celebrated in 1923 in Chennai. The 2019 theme is - Sustainable Pension for all: The Role of Social Partners.




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3. Negasso Gidada, who passed away recently, was the former President of which country?

A] Kenya

B] Ethiopia

C] Nigeria

D] Tanzania

Dr. Negasso Gidada (75), the former President of Ethiopia, has passed away in Frankfurt, Germany on April 27, 2019. He was president between 1995 and 2001 and was the first head of state after Ethiopia adopted a new constitution transforming the country into a federal state, with increased autonomy given to the different regions. The role of president in Ethiopia is largely ceremonial, with the prime minister holding most of the power.

4. Which of the following countries is the biggest spender on military expenditure in 2018, as per new data by SIPRI?

A] Russia

B] China

C] Saudi Arabia

D] United States

According to latest data released by global think-tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the total world military expenditure rose by 2.6% to $1,822 billion in 2018. As per new data, the United States is the world’s largest spender on defence in 2018.

China ($250 billion) has acquired 2nd position followed by Saudi Arabia ($67.6 billion), India ($66.5 billion) and France ($63.8 billion). The study found that the United States increased its military expenditure for the first time since 2010. China’s military spending rose for the 24th consecutive year.

5. Alfred Brownell, who won the 2019 Goldman Environmental Prize, is from which country?

A] Italy

B] Mongolia

C] Chile

D] Liberia

Alfred Brownell from Liberia, an environmental lawyer and activist, has been awarded the prestigious 2019 Goldman Environmental Prize for exposing alleged abuse by the palm oil company



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Golden Veroleum Liberia and helping to prevent it from converting about 50 km2 of forest that is home to elephants, pygmy hippopotamuses and chimpanzees into palm oil plantations.

The other winners of the top environment prize are: Linda Garcia of Vancouver, Ana Colovic Lesoska of North Macedonia, Bayarjargal Agvaantseren of Mongolia, Jacqueline Evans of the Cook Islands and Alberto Curamil of Chile. The Goldman Environment Prize is awarded annually to six grassroots activists from six different continents who have taken action and risked their lives to protect the planet.

6. The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is an autonomous body affiliated to which of the following union ministries?

A] Ministry of Civil Aviation

B] Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises

C] Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

D] Ministry of Coal

The Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) have signed a MoU for cooperation on various projects related to e-mobility. BHEL's unique strength as technology developer and implementer and ARAI's advanced facilities and expertise in design, testing and certification of mobility products, will generate synergies in implementing solutions for Electric & Trolley Bus, EV Chargers, Battery & Charger testing, etc.

The ARAI is an autonomous body affiliated to the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises (MoHI&PE). The objectives of the Association are Research and Development in automotive engineering for industry, product design and development, evaluation of automotive equipment and ancillaries, standardization, technical information services, execution of advanced courses on the application of modern technology and conduct of specific tests.

7. Which of the following football clubs has clinched the 2019 Spanish La Liga title?

A] Manchester United

B] Levante UD

C] Barcelona FC

D] Liverpool

Barcelona FC has successfully defended its Spanish La Liga crown after beating Levante UD in the final at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 27, 2019. The club's Argentine superstar and team captain Lionel Messi decided the game and scored the winning goal in the 61st minute in a 1–0 home win over Levante, which allowed Spanish club Barcelona to clinch the league title. This was Barcelona’s 26th La Liga league title and 8th in last 11 seasons.



CURRENT AFFAIRS 4

8. India’s biggest stucco sculpture has recently unearthed in which of the following states?

A] Tamil Nadu

B] Andhra Pradesh

C] Telangana

D] Kerala

Archaeologists in Telangana have recently unearthed a rare life-sized stucco sculpture from a Buddhist site at Phanigiri in Suryapet. It is considered to be the biggest stucco sculpture found in the excavations in the country till date.

The sculpture is about 1.73 metres in height and 35 cm in width. According to officials of department of heritage, the sculpture represents one of the Bodhisattvas belonging to the Jathaka Chakra. It is believed that a life size stucco Bodhisattva was created nearly 1,700 years ago by craftsmen at Phanigiri at the peak of Ikshavaku dynasty rule.

9. Who is the head of the committee to implement the National Clean Air Programme?

A] Secretary at Union Environment Ministry

B] Minister of Home Affairs

C] Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

D] Secretary at Ministry of Home Affairs

The Union Environment Ministry has constituted a committee to implement the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which aims to reduce particulate matter (PM) pollution by 20%-30% in at least 102 cities by 2024. The committee will be chaired by the Secretary, Union Environment Ministry. The NCAP is envisioned as a five-year action plan with 2019 as the first year.

There would be a review every five years. The purpose of the committee is to ensure inter-ministerial organisation and cooperation, share information and resolve issues that could arise between ministries. The NCAP requires cities to implement specific measures such as ensuring roads are pothole-free to improve traffic flow and thereby reduce dust (within 60 days) or ensuring strict action against unauthorised brick kilns (within 30 days).

10. Which country has recently honoured 1971 war hero Lt Gen JFR Jacob with a plaque on Ammunition Hill Wall of Honour?

A] Russia

B] Israel

C] Bangladesh



CURRENT AFFAIRS 5

D] Nepal

Israel has recently honoured 1971 war hero Lt. Gen. (retd) Jack Farj Rafael (JFR) Jacob with a plaque on Ammunition Hill Wall of Honour in Jerusalem. Lt. Gen. Jacob, who died in 2016 at the age of 92, negotiated the historic surrender of Pakistani troops in Dhaka after the 1971 Bangladesh's liberation war.

He was one of the most prominent members of India's relatively small Jewish community, and also served as a Lieutenant General in the Indian Army and later as a Governor of two Indian states-Goa and Punjab.



CURRENT AFFAIRS 1

CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. Which hockey player has been nominated for the 2019 Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award?

A] Chinglensana Singh Kangujam

B] P R Sreejesh

C] Akashdeep Singh

D] Romesh Pathania

Ace India goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh has been nominated for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award by Hockey India. While, Midfielder Chinglensana Singh Kangujam and forward Akashdeep Singh and women's team defender Deepika have been nominated for the Arjuna Award. Hockey India has also nominated R.P. Singh and Sandeep Kaur for Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement, while coaches Baljeet Singh, B.S. Chauhan and Romesh Pathania have been proposed for Dronacharya Award.

2. Indo-French joint naval exercise ‘Varuna 19.1’ has started in which of the following places?

A] Tamil Nadu

B] Karnataka

C] Goa

D] Kerala

The first part of the Indo-French joint naval exercise - Varuna 19.1 – has started off the Goa coast from 1 to 10 May 2019. The exercise will see the participation of the French Navy's aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle, two destroyers, FNS Forbin and FNS Provence, the frigate FNS Latouche-Treville, the tanker FNS Marne and a nuclear submarine.

From the Indian side, the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, destroyer INS Mumbai, the Teg-class frigate, INS Tarkash, the Shishumar- class submarine, INS Shankul, and the Deepak- class fleet tanker, INS Deepak, are taking part in the exercise. The exercise is being conducted in two phases.

The harbour phase at Goa would include cross-visits, professional interactions and discussions and sports events. The sea phase would comprise various exercises across the spectrum of maritime operations. The second part of the exercise - Varuna 19.2 - is scheduled to be held in May end in Djibouti.




CURRENT AFFAIRS 2

3. Operation Swift Retort, which is in news recently, is associated to which of the following countries?

A] Sri Lanka

B] Afghanistan

C] India

D] Pakistan

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has decided to observe its retaliatory action on February 27 against the Indian air strikes on the Balakot terror camp as 'Operation Swift Retort'. The tensions between India and Pakistan had escalated after the 14th February 2019 attack by a Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) suicide bomber in Pulwama that killed 40 CRPF soldiers.

13 days later, the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting what it said was a JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, the PAF retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in aerial combat and captured IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was later released and handed over to the Indian side on March 1.

4. Who has become the first non-British President of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)?

A] Sachin Tendulkar

B] Kumar Sangakkara

C] Michael Clarke

D] Steve Waugh

The former Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara has become the first non-British President of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). He will begin his one-year tenure in October 2019 and will succeed Anthony Wreford. His tenure will include two England test matches against West Indies and Pakistan and the launch of The Hundred competition - the England and Wales Cricket Board’s new 100-ball cricket format. MCC was founded in 1787 and lists 168 presidents in its history.

5. The headquarters of Water and Power Consultancy Services (India) Limited (WAPCOS) is located in which of the following cities?

A] New Delhi

B] Dehradun

C] Shimla

D] Chandigarh



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The Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCIL) has inked a MoU with Water & Power Consultancy Services (India) Limited (WAPCOS) to jointly identify suitable future projects and carry out geotechnical investigation and engineering consultancy.

The two firms will work together to explore projects in water resources, power and infrastructure, port and harbour dredging, shallow water dredging, beach nourishment, lake rehabilitation, flood management, erosion control, river morphology and other related sectors. WAPCOS is a mini ratna PSU under the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. The headquarters of WAPCOS is located at New Delhi.

6. The 8th Asian Youth Women Handball Championship is scheduled to be held in which of the following Indian cities?

A] Kanpur

B] Indore

C] New Delhi

D] Jaipur

In Rajasthan, the 8th Asian Youth Women Handball Championship is scheduled to be held in Jaipur, in which 10 teams, including defending champions South Korea, will be participating. It is the first time that the prestigious tournament would be played in the Pink city from August 21 to 30. Earlier, Delhi had hosted it in 2015 where the hosts India had finished seventh.

The tournament has been dominated by South Korea who has emerged champion in the all the 7 editions of the tournament held so far. The previous edition in 2017 was held at Jakarta in Indonesia where South Korea was the champion while Japan and China were placed second and third respectively.

7. Which country has become India’s top crude oil supplier in 2018-19 fiscal year?

A] Iraq

B] Saudi Arabia

C] Iran

D] UAE

For the second year in a row, Iraq has become India’s top crude oil supplier in 2018-19 fiscal year and meet more than a fifth of the country’s oil needs. According to official data sourced from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, Iraq sold 46.61 million tonnes (mt) of crude oil to India during April 2018 and March 2019, which is 2% more than 45.74 mt it had supplied in 2017-18 fiscal.



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Saudi Arabia also maintained its position as the 2nd-largest crude supplier to India during the year followed by Iran and United Arab Emirates (UAE) which toppled Venezuela to become India's fourth largest crude supplier. Despite US sanctions on Iran, the country’s crude oil supply to India increased 6.24% to 24 MT in 2018-19.

8. Mawmluh cave, sometimes seen in news, is associated to which of the following states?

A] Meghalaya

B] Arunachal Pradesh

C] Nagaland

D] Mizoram

In Meghalaya, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) North Eastern Region (NER) has recently installed two geological display boards at two important geological sites in the State with geo-scientific information which will help in creating awareness among visiting tourists, students and the general public. The boards are unvieled at two important geological sites in the State namely Mawmluh cave and Therriaghat, Sobhar in East Khasi Hill District.

The stalagmite in the Mawmluh cave has been tagged a Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP). It makes it first formally ratified marker of a geological time period in India. The Um-Sohryngkew (Wahrew) river section at Therriaghat is known for having the most complete records of Cretaceous-Palaeogene (K-Pg) boundary transition in India.

There is also a high level of iridium metal from the boundary which marks catastrophic event when a giant meteorite hit earth. The Meghalayan Age period began about 4200 years ago experienced an abrupt mega-drought and cooling around the world.

9. SEBI has barred which stock exchange from securities market for 6 months on co-location case?

A] BSE

B] NASDAQ

C] NSE

D] London Stock Exchange

On 30th April 2019, Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) barred the National Stock Exchange from raising money on the securities market directly or indirectly for six months on the collocation case. This means the NSE will not able to access the capital market in terms of IPO during this period.



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The regulator has also asked the exchange to disgorge around Rs 1,000 crore (i.e. Rs 624.89 crore plus 12% interest) from April 1, 2014 to the SEBI’s Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF). As per 104-page SEBI order, NSE has committed a fraudulent and unfair trade practice as contemplated under the SEBI (PFUTP) Regulations.

Here, PFUTP refers to Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices rules. Tick-by-Tick (TBT) is a data feed that which provides information regarding every change in the order book on the NSE. The Co-location refers to the system wherein a broker’s server is kept in the exchange premises to reduce latency (or delay in computing terms) while executing trades.

10. The 2019 edition of International Jazz Day was launched by UNESCO in which of the following countries?

A] India

B] Australia

C] New Zealand

D] Canada

The International Jazz Day (IZD) is celebrated around the world on April 30 every year to raise awareness in the international community of the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people.

In 2011, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially designated April 29 as International Jazz Day. The 2019 edition was launched in Melbourne, Australia and celebrated in more than 190 countries around the world.


winmeen.com 2019 MAY 05 & 06

CURRENT AFFAIRS 1

CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. What is the theme of the 2019 edition of World Press Freedom Day?

A] Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation

B] Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law

C] Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms

D] New Voices: Media Freedom Helping to Transform Societies

The World Press Freedom Day is observed every year on 3rd May as an opportunity to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, assess the state of press freedom throughout the world, defend the media from attacks on their independence, and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

The 2019 theme “Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation”, discusses current challenges faced by media in elections and its potential in supporting peace and reconciliation processes. The 26th celebration of World Press Freedom Day (WPED-2019) is jointly organized by UNESCO, African Union Commission and the Government of Ethiopia. The main event is being held at the African Union Headquarters at Addis Ababa.

2. Generalized System of Preference (GSP), sometimes seen in news, is associated to which of the following countries?

A] Japan

B] United States

C] China

D] France

The Generalized System of Preference (GSP) is the largest and oldest US trade preference programme and is designed to promote economic development by allowing duty-free entry for thousands of products from designated beneficiary countries.

Recently, it is in news because a group of 25 influential American lawmakers has urged the US Trade Representative - Robert Lighthizer - not to terminate the GSP programme after the expiry of the 60-day notice on 3rd May 2019. They argued that terminating GSP for India would hurt American companies seeking to expand their exports to India.

They also urged to continue negotiating a deal that protects and promotes jobs that rely on trade - both imports and exports - with India. President Donald Trump announced on March 4, the US intends to terminate India's designations as a beneficiary developing country under the GSP programme.




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3. Where is the headquarters of International Press Institute?

A] Washington

B] Berlin

C] Vienna

D] New York

On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) said in its latest report that as many as 55 journalists have been killed since May 2018. Press freedom globally is under intense and growing pressure, as illiberal-minded governments seek to shut down critical voices and, in many cases, deliberately erode the credibility of independent media.

According to a global network of journalists, Governments across the world are increasingly clamping down on press freedom as new laws are being enacted to curtail media independence around the world. While on the one hand governments are attempting to curtail press freedom, on the other journalists around the world are being killed with impunity.

4. Which Indian wrestler has won gold in the men’s 65kg freestyle at the 2019 Ali Aliyev wrestling tournament?

A] Mausam Khatri

B] Bajrang Punia

C] Rahul Aware

D] Sumit Malik

World No. 1 Bajrang Punia won the gold at the 2019 Ali Aliyev wrestling tournament. In the final of men’s 65kg freestyle, he defeated Viktor Rassadin inin Kaspiisk, Russia on May 2. He had won a gold medal last week at the Asian Championships in Xi’an, China.

5. Who has been appointed as first independent woman director of Bombay Stock Exchange?

A] Rajeshree Sabnavis

B] Pooja Dhanda

C] Jayshree Vyas

D] Usha Sangwan

M Jayshree Vyas, a professionally-qualified chartered accountant, has been appointed as the first independent woman director of Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Though still late by at least a few weeks from the deadline of April 1 given to all top 500 listed companies based on their market



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capitalisation for appointing an independent woman director on their board. The delay happened as BSE was awaiting market regulator SEBI’s approval on the appointment.

As of April 6, 51 of the top 500 NSE-listed companies by market capitalisation (including BSE) did not have independent woman director, according to nseinfobase.com run by Prime Database. In March alone, about 50 companies made a beeline to appoint an independent woman director.

BSE already has two non-executive women directors namely Usha Sangwan and Rajeshree Sabnavis on its Board. The Companies Act of 2013 mandates a certain class of companies to have at least one woman director on board. SEBIs, in compliance with the Companies Act 2013, made it compulsory to have at least one woman on a board from October 2014.

6. On which date, the World Tuna Day is observed recently?

A] May 1

B] May 2

C] May 3

D] May 4

The World Tuna Day is observed every year on May 2 to highlight the importance of sustainably managed fish stocks in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Tuna and tuna-like species are very important economically — to both developed and developing countries — and a significant source of food.

They include approximately 40 species occurring in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans and in the Mediterranean Sea. It is an important step in recognizing the critical role of tuna to sustainable development, food security, economic opportunity, and livelihoods of people around the world.

7. Bharat Fibre is associated to which telecom company?

A] BSNL

B] Reliance Jio

C] Vodafone

D] Airtel

State-owned telecom firm BSNL has become the first operator to start optical fibre-based high-speed broadband service in Pulwama with launch of ‘Bharat Fibre’. This is the first such FTTH (fibre-to-the-home) service deployment in the (Kashmir) Valley under this unique revenue share model. The Bharat Fibre services are provided on the optical fibre right up to the customer premises.



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This service has been launched in a business partnership model with the local channel partner of Pulwama area, on a revenue sharing basis. BSNL provides FTTH service with a monthly charge in the range of Rs 777-16,999 in over 160 telecom districts with a minimum speed of 2 megabit per second (mbps).

8. As per which UNSC committee, JeM Chief Masood Azhar has been designated as global terrorist?

A] UNSC 1267 Committee

B] UNSC 1265 Committee

C] UNSC 1266 Committee

D] UNSC 1268 Committee

In a major diplomatic victory for India, Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar was listed as a designated terrorist by the UN Security Council 1267 Committee on 1st May 2019 after China lifted its block on the move. The move will lead to sanctions on Azhar’s travel and his ability to secure finance for his group.

Significantly, the reasons for listing did not mention the Pulwama attack of February 14, for which the JeM had claimed responsibility. The reasons for designating Azhar as a terrorist as per latest listing included his support for the JeM since its founding, being associated with the Al-Qaeda. It also pointed to his role in recruiting fighters in Afghanistan.

The JeM itself was sanctioned by the 1267 Committee in 2001. A UNSC designation will subject Azhar to an assets freeze, travel ban and an arms embargo. An assets freeze under the sanctions committee requires that all states freeze without delay the funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities.

9. The Government of India (GoI) has signed a MoU with which IIT to set up a Centre of Excellence for Waste to Wealth Technologies?

A] IIT Indore

B] IIT Bombay

C] IIT Delhi

D] IIT Kanpur

To commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India and IIT Delhi have signed an MoU to set up a Centre of Excellence for Waste to Wealth Technologies for implementation of sustainable, scientific and technological solutions for waste management, through validation and deployment of available technologies for transformation of waste to wealth.



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The waste to wealth mission project has been approved under the recently constituted Prime Minister’s Science Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC). The partnership will provide an effective platform for stakeholders to bring together integrated approaches for effective recycle, reuse and resource recovery of waste.

10. Which of the following parliaments has become the first in the world to declare climate emergency?

A] United Kingdom

B] United States

C] Japan

D] Germany

The United Kingdom Parliament has become the first national legislative body in the world to pass national declaration (or motion) of an Environment and climate emergency. The move comes a week after 16-year-old Swedish student Greta Thunberg addressed UK lawmakers to demand more climate action, and in the wake of protests by climate action group Extinction Rebellion, who blocked major landmarks in London.

Thus, the symbolic move recognizes the urgency needed to combat the climate crisis. The move will increase pressure on the government and is demanding that the country takes action to help avoid more than 1.5 degrees centigrade of warming, requiring global emissions to be cut by almost half of 2010 levels by 2030. It also calls for the government to work towards carbon neutrality before 2050 and for ministers to draft proposals within the next six months to restore the country's environment.



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1. Which of the following state city police has launched an all-women police patrol unit ‘Rani Abbakka Force’?

A] Karnataka

B] Telangana

C] Kerala

D] Andhra Pradesh

Mangaluru City Police has launched an all-women police patrol unit ‘Rani Abbakka Force’ for the protection of women and children. The force will cover the malls, beaches, educational institutions, places of religious importance, and public transport system in the city. It will handle issues related to eve-teasing and chain-snatching, among others.

The all-women police patrol force has been named after the 16th century warrior of coastal Karnataka, Queen Abbakka of Ullal near Mangaluru, who fought the Portuguese in the 16th century. At present, 50 women policewomen have been deployed in ‘Rani Abbakka Force’ in the city, with each patrol team having five policewomen. The Rani Abbakka Force was also launched by the Udupi district police recently.

2. Who led the Indian delegation at the 16th Ministerial Meeting of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD-2019)?

A] Rajnath Singh

B] Sushma Swaraj

C] V K Singh

D] Piyush Goyal

The 16th Ministerial Meeting of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD-2019) was held in Doha, Qatar from April 30-May 2 with theme “Partners in Progress”. Gen. (Dr) V.K. Singh (Retd), Minister of State for External Affairs led the Indian delegation. In his address, the Minister expressed profound sorrow for April 21 terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka and emphasized the need for the world community to expeditiously adopt the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (UNCCIT).

On the basis of 2019 theme, Dr. Singh underlined India’s desire for working cooperatively with all ACD Member States in line with the Government of India’s approach of “Collective Efforts, Inclusive Growth”. He also urged the Member States to join the International Solar Alliance launched in November 2015.




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3. Which former ISRO chief has been bestowed with France's highest civilian award?

A] U Ramachandra Rao

B] G Madhavan Nair

C] A.S Kiran Kumar

D] Satish Dhawan

Former ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar has been conferred with France's highest civilian award - Chevalier de l'Ordre national de la Lgion d’Honneur - for his contribution to India-France space cooperation. Throughout his career at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), including as its chairman from 2015 to 2018, Kumar fostered the historic and ambitious space cooperation between India and France.

The Ordre national de la Lgion d'Honneur (National Order of the Legion of Honour) was created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, and is the highest civilian award given by the French for outstanding service to France, regardless of the nationality of the recipient.

4. Which of the following banks has become the first Indian bank to link interest rates to RBI's repo rate?

A] PNB

B] BoB

C] BoI

D] SBI

The State Bank of India (SBI) has become the first bank in the country to link its saving and loan interest rates to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s repo rate. The move assumes significance as the effective interest rate from May 1 on savings deposit above Rs 1 lakh will come down to 3.25% from 3.5%. Though, the linking of short-term loans like overdraft and cash credit facility with limit of above Rs 1 lakh will now attract an interest rate close to 8.25%

Hence, the interest rates on large SBI savings account deposits and interest rate on some short-term loans will automatically change as and when RBI changes its repo rate. This will help in better transmission of RBI's policy rates into the banking system.



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5. Master Hirannaiah, who passed away recently, was the noted personality of which regional theatre?

A] Tamil

B] Kannada

C] Telugu

D] Odia

Master Hirannaiah (85), the noted Kannada theatre personality, passed away in Bengaluru, Karnataka on May 2, 2019.

6. Who has been appointed as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the office of Lokpal?

A] Mahender Singh

B] Ajay Kumar Tripathi

C] Abhilasha Kumari

D] Dilip Kumar

Dilip Kumar, a 1995-batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre, has been appointed as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the office of Lokpal. He has been appointed for a period of six months on additional charge basis or till a new incumbent joins the post. It is perhaps the first official appointment of a bureaucrat in Lokpal.

Prior to this post, he was joint secretary at National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Earlier, on 23rd March 2019, President Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath of office to Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose as the chairperson of the anti-corruption ombudsman. According to the rules, there is a provision for a chairperson and a maximum of 8 members in the Lokpal panel. Of these, four need to be judicial members.

7. King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who is in news recently, is from which country?

A] Thailand

B] Japan

C] Vietnam

D] Indonesia

King Maha Vajiralongkorn has been crowned as the Rama X of Thailand in a dazzling show of pageantry on behalf of the Thai people. This marked the first ascension of a new monarch in seven decades. The key rituals of the elaborate 3-day coronation ceremony began at the Grand Palace in



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Bangkok on May 4, 2019. King Vajiralongkorn is the 10th monarch of the Chakri dynasty, which has reigned since 1782.

The last coronation was held in 1950 for the king's father Bhumibol Adulyadej. Thailand has been run by an arch-royalist junta since 2014. The monarchy takes primacy in the country but it is buttressed by the army. Thailand has a constitutional monarchy since 1932, but the royal family is highly revered by Thais and wields considerable power. Thailand also has strict laws, called lese majeste, which ban criticism of the monarchy.

8. On which date, the 2019 edition of International Firefighters’ Day is observed recently?

A] May 2

B] May 4

C] May 5

D] May 6

The International Firefighters’ Day (IFFD) is observed every year on May 4 to recognize and honour the sacrifices that firefighters make to ensure that our communities and environment are as safe as possible. It was instituted after a proposal was emailed out across the world on January 4, 1999 due to the deaths of five firefighters in tragic circumstances in a bushfire in Australia.

9. Who has been appointed as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander in Europe (SACEUR)?

A] Stuart Peach

B] Tod Wolters

C] Knud Bartels

D] Walter E. Gaskin

US Air Force General Tod Wolters has been sworn-in as the top military officer of the 29-nation NATO military alliance. He became Supreme Allied Commander in Europe (SACEUR) at a ceremony on Friday at NATO’s military headquarters in Mons, southern Belgium. Wolters succeeded General Curtis M. Scaparrotti.

His term is likely to run two to three years, and will also be commander of U.S. forces in Europe. The NATO post of SACEUR is always held by an American military officer. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 North American and European countries.



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10. Which Indian sportswomen has attained the World No. 1 position in the women’s 10m air rifle event?

A] Manu Bhaker

B] Anisa Sayyed

C] Apurvi Chandela

D] Anjum Moudgil

According to the latest rankings released by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), Indian shooting ace Apurvi Chandela from Jaipur has recently attained the world number 1 position in the women’s 10m air rifle event.

Beside her, Anjum Moudgil also occupied the World No 2 spot in the same event to make it a one-two for India. Both the shooters have already secured the 2020 Tokyo Olympics quotas for the country.


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1. The TePe Sigeman & Co International tournament is associated to which of the following sports?

A] Judo

B] Tennis

C] Swimming

D] Chess

In chess, the TePe Sigeman & Co International tournament has started in Malmo, Sweden on May 3. According to the World Chess Federation (FIDE), the tournament will have 8 players with an average rating of 2663, making it a Category 17 tournament.

The field is led by the India No. 2 Grand Master Pentala Harikrishna. Harikrishna will open his campaign against Persson while Nihal Sarin is set to meet Saric in the opener.

In it, 14-year old Indian Grandmaster Nihal is training his sight to become the youngest Indian to break the 2600 rating barrier from this event. Nihal goes into the tournament with a live rating of 2598. He hopes to break the Indian record set by Parimarjan Negi almost a decade back in 2009.

2. Which Indian squash player has won the women's title at the 2019 Asian Individual Squash Championship?

A] Anwesha Reddy

B] Dipika Pallikal Karthik

C] Joshna Chinappa

D] Misha Grewal

Ace Indian squash players Saurav Ghoshal and Joshna Chinappa won their respective Asian Individual Squash Championship titles in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 6.

Saurav Ghoshal defeated Leo Au Chun Ming of Hong Kong 11-9, 11-2, 11-8 to win the men's title. On the other hand, Joshna Chinappa retained her title as she beat

top seed Annie Au of Hong Kong, 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 11-6 in the women's final event.

Ghoshal who had become the first Indian male player to reach top ten of the world rankings is the finalist of the previous edition.

3. Duti Krushna Panda, who passed away recently, was the veteran politician of which party?

A] CPI

B] INC

C] BJP

D] BSP

Duti Krushna Panda (97), the veteran CPI leader and former Lok Sabha member, has passed away in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on May 5, 2019. Panda was elected to Lok Sabha from Bhanjanagara Parliamentary Constituency (presently Aska) in 1971.

He was also elected to the state assembly from Aska seat in 1990. He was actively associated with several trade unions and was the founder president of Odisha Anganwardi Workers' Association.

Panda was state secretary and president of CPI and AITUC, respectively. He was also the president of Ganjam district sugar growers' association.

4. What is the theme of the Indian Pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale 2019?

A] Swami Vivekananda & his preaching

B] Hundred and Fifty years of Mahatma Gandhi

C] Tribute to Madam Bhikaji Cama

D] India since Independence

After 8 years, India will once again mark its presence at the art world's oldest Biennale in Venice, Italy that begins on 11th May 2019. The overarching theme at the



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58th Venice Biennale 2019 is 'Our Time for a Future Caring', and India has decided to showcase Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi to ensure a memorable show at the art event.

In it, 16 of the 400 Haripura posters will go up on the walls of the India pavilion with the theme ‘Hundred and Fifty years of Mahatma Gandhi’. This will be the second time India will have a pavilion of its own at one of the biggest art events in the world.

The India pavilion is curated by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), and commissioned by the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA). The India Pavilion will revisit through diverse art forms, the indelible memory of Mahatma Gandhi his philosophical ideas.

In 1938, Mahatma Gandhi commissioned Indian modern artist Nandalal Bose to create paintings portraying different aspects of Indian life to be displayed at the Indian National Congress' session in Haripura, Gujarat.

5. Which IIT has tied up with e-Governance Services India Limited to upscale Unnat Bharat Abhiyan?

A] IIT Delhi

B] IIT Indore

C] IIT Kanpur

D] IIT Bombay

Common Service Centre’s (CSC) e-Governance Services India Limited has tied up with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Kanpur to upscale ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’, which is an initiative of the Ministry of HRD.

It aims to find solutions to accelerate sustainable growth in rural India. Under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, IIT-Kanpur has brought together 15 leading higher education institutions from Uttar Pradesh.

These institutions have agreed to work with CSC for the development of villages under the scheme. IIT

Kanpur has adopted five villages -- Hridayapur, Baikanthpur, Ishwariganj, Pratappur Hari and Saxupurva -- situated on the outskirts of Kanpur for its overall development.

The e-Governance Services India is a special purpose vehicle under the Ministry of Electronics & IT.

6. Which space agency has revealed that giant asteroid 99942 Apophis is expected to fly close to Earth in a decade?

A] NASA

B] Roscosmos

C] JAXA

D] CNES

According to the latest data from US space agency NASA, the giant asteroid named 99942 Apophis is expected to approach dangerously close to the Earth on April 13, 2029.

However, there is no need to worry as it will be about 31,000km away from the surface of the Earth. This is going to be a great opportunity for asteroid scientists as it's relatively rare for such a large object to pass so close to the Earth.

The colossal asteroid is named after the Egyptian god of chaos and destruction. Apophis was discovered in 2004 by U.S. astronomers. Since then, optical and radar telescopes have tracked Apophis as it continues on its orbit around the sun, so scientists know well its future trajectory. Current calculations shows that Apophis still has a small chance of impacting earth.

7. Which Indian journalist has won the 2018 ACJ Award for Investigative Journalism in print/online category?

A] Nilita Vachani

B] Nikita Saxena

C] Neha Dixit

D] Nileena MS


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Journalist Nileena MS, a reporting fellow with The Caravan, has won the prestigious ACJ Award for Investigative Journalism in print/online category for the year 2018.

She won the award for her story titled “Coalgate 2.0: The Adani Group reaps benefits worth thousands of crores of rupees as the coal scam continues under the Modi government”.

Her investigative piece revealed how a joint venture between Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited & Adani Enterprises Limited continues to function on the basis of agreements that pre-date a landmark SC judgement from Sep.2014.

The ACJ award comprises a trophy, citation and a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh. The award is given by the Asian College of Journalism with the support of the Media Development Foundation to recognise and encourage the best works of investigative journalism produced for Indian readers, viewers and audiences in order to promote journalism in the public interest.

8. INS Vela, which is launched under Indian Navy's Project-75, is the joint venture of India and which of the following countries?

A] United States

B] France

C] Germany

D] Russia

The fourth of Indian Navy’s stealth Scorpene class Submarines of Project 75, INS Vela has recently launched for trials at the Kanhoji Angre Wet Basin of Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in Mumbai.

The submarines are being built at Mazagon Dock Limited, with the main collaborator being M/s naval group, France. The Scorpene-class submarine in the Indian Navy has been termed as the Kalvari-class.

In 2005, a contract was signed between French DCNS (now Naval Group) and MDL under Indian Navy's

Project-75 for the supply of six submarines. Of the six submarines, INS Kalvari was commissioned in December 2018 while INS Khanderi and INS Karanj are are in advanced stages to join the Navy fleet.

The remaining two — INS Vagir and INS Vagsheer are in the in the "advanced stages of manufacturing" at the Mazagon Dock. The contract is expected to be completed by 2020.

9. Bandana, who set a new Guinness World Record on ‘Longest Dancing Marathon by an Individual’, is from which country?

A] India

B] Nepal

C] Sri Lanka

D] Pakistan

A Nepali teenager, Bandana Nepal (18) has set a new Guinness World Record on 'Longest Dancing Marathon by an Individual' by dancing continuously for 126 hours. She received the official confirmation from the Guinness Records on 3rd May 2019.

Bandana set the record by doing a solo dance on Nepali music for 126 hours in the hall of Big Foodland restaurant in Kathmandu on November 23, 2018.

Hails from Dhankuta district in eastern Nepal, she also owns a youth organisation named Bandana Nepal Foundation. The organization works for uplift of poor women in Nepal.

Bandana beat the record set by a Kerala-based woman named Kalamandalam Hemalatha in 2011. Known as ‘The Dancing Queen of Kerala’, Hemalatha performed the Mohiniattam, a classical dance form continuously for 123 hours and 15 minutes.


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10. Which country is the current chair of the 2019 G-7 summit?

A] France

B] India

C] Chile

D] Australia

India is officially invited to Group of 7 (G-7) industrialized nations summit along with Australia, Chile and South Africa. The summit is scheduled to be held in Biarritz, France in August 24-25, 2019.

According to analysts, the invitation clearly reflects the strong strategic connect between India and France. And also, the invitation to Australia, France and South Africa besides India reflects the French emphasis on the Indian Ocean and the Pacific region.

The G-7 groups together the US, Britain, France, Italy, Canada, Japan and Germany. This is not first time that India will be present at this exclusive club.

In 2005, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had attended the G-8 +5 meet in Gleneagles in Scotland at the invitation of then British Prime Minister Tony Blair.


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1. What is the theme of the 2019 World Asthma Day?

A] Better air better breathing

B] You Can Control Your Asthma

C] Understanding asthma

D] Stop for Asthma

The World Asthma Day (WAD) is celebrated every year on first Tuesday of May to increase awareness about asthma and aims to improve the lives of people with asthma across the world. Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs which causes breathing problems.

Asthma usually appears through symptoms like coughing, tightness in the chest, breathlessness. The 2019 WAD is observed on 7th of May with theme ‘Stop for Asthma’.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are 235 million people currently suffering from asthma around the world. Asthma is one of the major non-communicable diseases and it is also the most common chronic disease in children. Regular exercise can help reduce asthma symptoms.

2. Who is the newly appointed Prime Minister of Mali?

A] Michel Sidibe

B] Malick Coulibaly

C] Boubou Cisse

D] Tiebile Drame

In Mali, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has recently announced the new government of 37 members under Prime Minister Boubou Cisse after its predecessor resigned last month.

Last week, Cisse signed a pact with opposition and majority party representatives declaring their willingness to set up a politically-inclusive new government.

Cisse’s predecessor Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga and his entire cabinet resigned on April 18 following the massacre of some 160 members of the Fulani herding community on March 23 in the village of Ogossagou near Mali's border with Burkina Faso.

3. Who of the following Indians are among 115 UN personnel staff honoured for sacrifice in line of duty?

A] Sunny Rajput & Sukhpreet Kaur

B] Prithvi Shaw & Manju Sharma

C] Jitender Kumar & Shikha Garg

D] Narendra Singh Rathore & Neha Gupta

Two Indians - an Indian police officer Jitender Kumar deployed to the UN mission in Congo and a consultant Shikha Garg with the UN development programme, killed in the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash, are among 115 UN peacekeepers and staff honoured by the global organisation for their sacrifice.

They lost their lives in the service of peace between January 2018 and March 2019. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, along with top UN officials and Peacekeeping personnel paid tribute to 115 peace keepers from 43 different nations, who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty at the solemn ceremony on May 5, 2019.

4. ‘GRIHA for Existing Day Schools’, which is in news recently, is associated to which of the following issues?

A] Mid Day Meal

B] Quality Education

C] Environment

D] All of the above

In a bid to evaluate the environmental performance of existing schools across India, the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) Council has



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recently released a rating tool ‘GRIHA for Existing Day Schools’.

The rating tool will work as an integrated tool to evaluate performance and provide solutions for enhanced energy and water efficiencies and decreased operational and maintenance costs.

The purpose of the rating is to familiarize the students with the concepts of sustainability by involving them, under the guidance of their teachers, on evaluating the environmental impact of schools on the environment.

Through the rating process, students and teachers will get an opportunity to establish contact with nature and with each other using the approach of co-creation and understanding.

5. INS Ranjit, which is recently decommissioned by Indian Navy, was built by which of the countries?

A] USSR

B] United States

C] France

D] Germany

Frontline missile destroyer of the Indian Navy ‘INS Ranjit’ has recently decommissioned at a solemn ceremony at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam, after serving the Indian navy for 36 years.

INS Ranjit is the third of the five Kashin-class destroyers built by the erstwhile USSR and was commissioned on September 15 1983 by Captain Vishnu Bhagwat.

Since being commissioned, INS Ranjit has sailed for 2,190 days, covering over 7, 43, 000 nautical miles, equivalent to navigating around the world 35 times and 3.5 times the distance from the earth to the moon.

The ship was at the forefront of major naval operations and served on both the Eastern and Western seaboards. Apart from naval operations like ‘Op Talwar’ and various multinational exercises, the

ship participated in relief operations post Tsunami in 2004 and Hud-hud on 2014.

In recognition of the service rendered by INS Ranjit to the nation, the ship was awarded Unit Citations by the Chief of Naval Staff in 2003-04 and in 2009-10.

6. Who has been elected as the new President of Panama?

A] Dahirou Dembele

B] Laurentino Cortizo

C] Ricardo Arias

D] Jose Miguel Aleman

Laurentino Cortizo has been declared the winner of 2019 presidential election of Panama. The 2019 elections have been dominated by pledges to fight corruption and to tackle Panama’s image as a money-laundering country.

Cortizo is the candidate for Panama's Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD). His party was founded by military ruler Omar Torrijos in 1979, and has been out of power since 2009.

7. Who has been sworn-in as the new Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court?

A] Subhash Reddy

B] A. S Dave

C] PR Ramachandra Menon

D] Hemant Gupta

Justice PR Ramachandra Menon has been sworn-in as the new Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court. Governor Anandiben Patel administered him the oath of office and secrecy at a function at Raj Bhawan.

Earlier, Menon was a judge in the Kerala High Court. As per article 217 of constitution, the Chief Justice of a High Court is appointed by the President with the consultation of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Governor of the State.


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The other judges are appointed by the will of President, Governor and the Chief Justice of High Court.

8. Who has been appointed as new coach of Indian Volleyball Team?

A] Pryemyslaw Gaszyoski

B] Dragan Mihailovic

C] Valadimir Radosevic

D] Michel Sidibe

The Volleyball Federation of India (VFI) has recently appointed Dragan Mihailovic (from Serbia) as head coach of the men’s national team in a move linked to the long term goal of Olympic Games qualification.

The VFI also announced the appointment of Pryemyslaw Gaszyoski and Valadimir Radosevic as the team’s physio trainer and physiotherapist respectively.

Besides the men’s national team, the trio will also look after the men’s U-23 team and other junior teams representing India. All the three have been appointed for 5 months and will work with the team for the Asian Championships scheduled to be held in Iran during September.

9. Who has been bestowed with the 2019 V K Krishna Menon Award?

A] K Sivan

B] G D Robert Govender

C] Mahendra Chaudhry

D] K G Balakrishnan

G D ‘Robert’ Govender, an Indian-origin journalist in South Africa, has been honoured in the UK with 2019 V K Krishna Menon award for his outstanding contribution as a pioneer of decolonized journalism.

During a career spanning nearly 60 years, Govender developed a reputation as a campaigning journalist

and author and was also the first journalist to call for an international boycott of South Africa's whites-only sports teams.

He was awarded posthumously during an event by the UK-based V K Krishna Menon Foundation to mark the 123rd birth anniversary of Indian diplomat and politician V K Krishna Menon.

The objectives of the foundation are to eradicate illiteracy and propagate knowledge among the masses of the world, promote oriental art and culture, eliminate poverty, encourage proliferation and promote Non-Aligned Movement in the world.

V K Krishna Menon was a freedom fighter and independent India's first high commissioner to the UK. Later on he also became defence minister of the country during Nehru’s prime ministership.

10. The book ‘Game Changer’ is the autobiography of which of the following cricketers?

A] Waqar Younis

B] Javed Miandad

C] Shahid Afridi

D] Imran Khan

Pakistan’s former captain and star all-rounder Shahid Afridi has recently released his controversial autobiography, titled ‘Game Changer’. Be it his views on Kashmir, 2010 spot fixing scandal or his age revelation, Afridi has been creating headlines ever since his autobiography was released.

It is co-authored by Afridi and journalist Wajahat S Khan and is published by HarperCollins India. The book details some interesting and exciting information from the cricketer’s life. He has criticised many former players, including Javed Miandad, Waqar Younis and Gautam Gambhir in the book. Afridi is popularly known as ‘Boom Boom’ and holds the world record for the fastest ODI century in 37 deliveries.


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1. Which Indian personality has been elected as the member of the International Narcotics Control Board?

A] Upendra Kushwah

B] Dalveer Bhandari

C] Jagjit Pavadia

D] Nagendra Singh

In a significant victory, India’s Jagjit Pavadia has been re-elected to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) for a 5-year term beginning 2nd March, 2020. She posted the highest number of votes at 44. Ms Pavadia has been a member of the INCB since 2015 and her current term is set to expire in 2020.

The victory added to India's successful record of winning crucial elections at the UN and to the world organisation's subsidiary bodies. Established in 1968, the INCB is an independent and quasi-judicial monitoring body for the implementation of the UN's international drug control conventions.

INCB consists of 13 members who are elected by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and who serve in their personal capacity.

2. What is the theme of the 2019 edition of World Red Cross Day?

A] #peace

B] #love

C] #humanity

D] #unity

The World Red Cross Day (WRCD) is observed every year on May 8 to recognize the extraordinary contribution and incredible achievements of the stalwarts and volunteers around the world for helping the people in need anytime, anywhere. It is a gentle nod to all the volunteers who have made unparalleled contribution to people in need.

The day is also known as World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day. This date is the anniversary of the birth of Henry Dunant, who was born on 8 May 1828. He was the founder of International Committee of the Red Cross and the recipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize.

The 2019 theme is “#love” or simply “love”, which will focus on broadening people's understanding of the society by highlighting diversity and universality of work and approach of Red Cross.

On this special day, several blood donation camps will be organised around the world and this day also offers an opportunity to provide voluntary medical services to society.

3. Which of the following countries are members of inter-governmental forum Arctic Council?

A] Canada, Denmark & India

B] Russia, Sweden & United States

C] Russia, India & China

D] France, Iceland & Germany

On 7th May 2019, India has been re-elected as an observer to inter-governmental forum Arctic Council at the 11th Arctic Council ministerial meeting at Rovaniemi, Finland. Indian researchers have been studying whether there is a co-relation between Indian monsoon and the Arctic region.

The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, an Indian institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has set up a research station, 'Himadri', in Svalbard in Norway that works on the mass balance of glaciers, the effect of the warming on the marine system, the formation of clouds and precipitation, and the effect on biodiversity.

The Arctic Council promotes cooperation, coordination and interaction among Arctic states on common



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issues, particularly on sustainable development and environmental protection.

It addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic. It consists of 8 members’ countries: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the US.

4. The Desert Storm 2019 has started from which city of Rajasthan?

A] Bikaner

B] Jaipur

C] Udaipur

D] Barmer

The Desert Storm 2019 is touted to be the longest Cross-Country Rally in India, which is started from Bikaner in Rajasthan on 8th May.

The 4-day-long Rally will see over 100 teams competing in high temperatures, treacherous dune crossings and fast technical gravel straights which will pose an exciting challenge to the competitors.

5. India's first natural Ice Café is located in which of the following states?

A] Himchal Pradesh

B] J&K

C] Sikkim

D] Arunachal Pradesh

India’s first natural Ice Cafe has started at a height of 14,000 feet in Leh, Ladakh. The ice cafe is located on the Manali-Leh Highway. It is created by natural process by the Border Road Organisation (BRO) officials, with the help of some locals during winters.

It is built in the shape of a mound with the purpose of saving water in winter and using it later for irrigation purposes when the ice melts in spring.

The cafe utilises the same concept as used by Sonam Wangchuk for his ice stupa project in Ladakh and has been attracting a large number of tourists.

6. Which country’s privately developed rocket 'Momo-3' reached outer space?

A] South Korea

B] France

C] Japan

D] China

A Japanese aerospace startup Interstellar Technology Inc. has become the first private firm in Japan to launch a rocket into space. It has successfully launched a small rocket ‘Momo-3’ from its test site in Hokkaido, which reached about 110 kilometers (68 miles) in altitude before falling into the Pacific Ocean after 10 minutes of flight time.

With this feat, Momo-3 has become the Japan’s first privately developed model to reach outer space. The rocket is about 10 m (32 feet) long & 50 cms (1.5 feet) in diameter, and weighs about 1 ton. The rocket is capable of putting payloads into orbit.

The Interstellar Technology, founded in 2013 by former Livedoor Co. President Takafumi Horie, aims to develop low-cost commercial rockets to carry satellites into space.

7. Dr. NR Madhava Menon, the father of modern Indian Legal Education has passed away. He was from which state?

A] Karnataka

B] Andhra Pradesh

C] Tamil Nadu

D] Kerala

Dr. NR Madhava Menon (84), the renowned academician and father of modern Indian Legal


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Education, passed away in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on May 8. He is credited for revolutionizing the field of legal education by establishing National Law Schools and by conceptualizing the 5-year integrated LLB programme.

He was the founder Director of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Bangalore and the National Judicial Academy (NJA) Bhopal and the founder Vice Chancellor of the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS).

The nation honoured him with the Padma Sri in 2003 for his outstanding contributions to the legal field.

8. What is the theme of the 2019 edition of World Thalassaemia Day?

A] Access to Safe & Effective Drugs in Thalassaemia

B] Economic Recession: Observe – Joint Forces – Safeguard Health

C] Enhancing partnership towards patient-centred health systems

D] Universal access to quality thalassaemia healthcare services

The World Thalasseamia Day is observed every year on May 8 to raise awareness about this ailment among people all over the world. The 2019 theme is “Universal access to quality thalassaemia healthcare services: Building bridges with and for patients”.

Thalaseemia is a chronic blood disorder. It is a genetic disorder due to which a patient cannot make enough hemoglobin found in Red Blood Cells. This leads to anemia and patients also require blood transfusions every two to three weeks to survive. Thalassemias are inherited disorders passed from parents to children through genes.

9. The researchers at which institute has found a novel function for stress buster serotonin to treat neurological decline?

A] AIIMS, Delhi

B] Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai

C] National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore

D] All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore

The researchers at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai have found a novel function for serotonin (a chemical that signals between neurons).

The recent discovery establishes that serotonin is involved in the generation of new mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell) in neurons, increased cellular respiration and fuel (ATP) in the cell.

The chemical can impact the manner in which neurons grapple with stress and affect the trajectory of ageing. Neuronal loss is a major cause of neurodegenerative diseases such as in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Abnormal mitochondrial functions are known to cause or contribute to neuronal death. Hence, the new findings from TIFR raise the possibility that serotonin signalling could be used to prevent mitochondrial abnormalities and neuronal loss.

Serotonin’s newly indentified function has been studied in mice and rats. The results of the study were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The chemical name of serotonin is 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT).


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10. Pakkamalai Reserve Forests is located in which state?

A] Tamil Nadu

B] Kerala

C] Karnataka

D] Andhra Pradesh

For the first time, researchers have recently sighted nests of the grizzled giant squirrel (Ratufa macroura) at Pakkamalai Reserve Forests near Gingee (Tamil Nadu) in the Eastern Ghats.

It is an endangered species listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The grizzled giant squirrel is usually known to nest in the Western Ghats in Southern India ranging from Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary in Kerala to Anamalai Tiger Reserve and Palani hills in Tamil Nadu.

Owing to habitat loss and poaching, the species has been categorized as near threatened by the Red List and listed under Schedule II of CITES.

The grizzled giant squirrel has a body length of 25-45 cms, with an equally long or slightly longer tail. It can weigh anything between 1.5-3 kg.


2019 MAY 11 & 12

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1. Which of the following golfers has been honoured with 2019 US Presidential Medal of Freedom?

A] Rickie Fowler

B] Phil Mickelson

C] Tiger Woods

D] Justin Rose

On May 6, US President Donald Trump bestowed Tiger Woods with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. He won his first major in nearly 11 years at last month’s Masters Tournament, a comeback that captivated the sporting world.

Woods is only the fourth and the youngest golfer ever to have received the highest American civilian award. The other golfers were Arnold Palmer (74), in 2004; Jack Nicklaus (65), in 2005; and Charlie Sifford, (92), in 2014. Sifford was the first African American to play on the PGA tour.

The Medal of Freedom is America’s highest honour for civilian accomplishment. President Truman first established the medal to honour extraordinary civilian accomplishments related to World War II. President Kennedy re-established the medal by executive order in 1963.

2. The team of scientists at CSIR has recently carried out first-ever genetic studies on people of which of the following islands?

A] Majuli

B] Ross Island

C] Nicobar Islands

D] Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep is an archipelago of 36 islands and scattered over approximately 78,000 square km of the Arabian Sea with population of approximately 65,000.

Recently, the team of scientists at CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) carried out first-ever genetic studies on the people of Lakshadweep Islands.

The team was was led by Dr. K Thangaraj. The scientist have studied the major islands of Agatti, Andorth, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kiltan and Minicoy of Lakshadweep and demonstrated a close genetic link of Lakshadweep islanders with people from Maldives, Sri Lanka and India.

They analyzed DNA samples of 557 individuals from these 8 major islands for mitochondrial DNA and 166 individuals for Y chromosome markers.

The paternal and maternal ancestries of the majority of island populations suggest their arrival from distinct sources. They found that the maternal ancestry was closer to South Indian populations, whereas the paternal ancestry is more similar to the Maldives and North India.

In conclusion, the first genetic data suggest that the majority of human ancestry in Lakshadweep is largely derived from South Asia with minor influences from East and West Eurasia.

3. What is the theme of the 2019 edition of UN Global Road Safety Week?

A] Road Security a Goal, Not an Intermission

B] Leadership for road safety

C] Young road users, including young drivers

D] Walk for Road Security

The 5th edition of United Nations (UN) Global Road Safety Week has started from 6th May with theme “leadership for road safety”. The World Health Organization (WHO) promotes road safety as a means to reduce traffic-related injuries.



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Hence, UN Global Road Safety Weeks and its’ campaigns are chaired by WHO and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). It launched action through the ongoing campaign: Save Lives - #SpeakUp.

4. Which Indian filmmaker will direct a film on the life of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman?

A] Shyam Benegal

B] Sanjay Leela Bhansali

C] Mani Ratnam

D] Vishal Bhardwaj

India and Bangladesh will jointly produce a film on the life & works of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and also a documentary on Bangladesh Liberation War. He was the founding father of Bangladesh.

The movie will be directed by the acclaimed Indian filmmaker Shyam Benegal and will be written by Atul Tiwari. The decision was taken after a Bangladeshi delegation led by Dr. Gowher Rizvi met Information and Broadcasting Secretary Amit Khare.

It was mutually agreed that the director of the documentary would be from Bangladesh who would be assisted by a co-director from India.

Prasar Bharati has decided to carry Bangladesh TV on DD Free Dish platform without charging carriage fees. As a reciprocal gesture, Bangladesh Delegation announced that a Doordarshan channel will be adopted on the soon-to-be launched DTH platform of Bangladesh.

5. Mrinal Mukherjee, who passed away recently, was the renowned actor of which regional cinema?

A] Odia

B] Bengali

C] Urdu

D] Kannada

Mrinal Mukherjee (74), the veteran film and TV actor, has passed away in Kolkata, West Bengal on May 8, 2019. Apart from being a versatile actor, Mrinal Mukherjee was a great singer as well.

6. Baidyanath Mishra, who passed away recently, was the renowned personality of which field?

A] Economy

B] History

C] Geography

D] Polity

Baidyanath Mishra (99), the renowned economist, has passed away in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on May 8, 2019. Mishra had started his career as a lecturer in Ravenshaw University in Cuttack in 1949.

He later worked at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT). He was vice-chancellor of OUAT from 1981 to 1985. Mishra was also the chairman of State Planning Board from 1985 to 1990.

7. Where is the headquarters of IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services)?

A] Berlin

B] Paris

C] New York

D] Bonn

The UN report titled “IPBES Global Assessment” has been released by IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services). It is compiled by 145 expert authors from 50 countries.

The IPBES report found that around 1 million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction. The threatened list includes more than 40% of


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amphibian species, almost 33% of reef-forming corals, and more than a third of all marine mammals.

The report tells us that it is not too late to make a difference, but only if we start now at every level from local to global. The headquarters of IBPES is located in Bonn, Germany.

8. Which Indian city is hosting the World Customs Organisation (WCO) regional custom heads meeting?

A] Shimla

B] Pune

C] Kochi

D] New Delhi

The meeting of the Regional Heads of Customs Administration of Asia Pacific Region of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) is being organized by Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in Kochi from 08th to 10th May, 2019. India is hosting this meeting in its capacity as Vice Chair of the Asia Pacific region that it assumed on 1st July, 2018 for a 2 year period.

The meeting will facilitate and secure the cross-border trade in the region and the capacity building and technical assistance required to achieve this goal. This meeting is being chaired by Mr. Pranab Kumar Das, CBIC Chairman.

9. Which union ministry has recently decided to discard its ‘Black List’ of Indian-origin people?

A] Ministry of External Affairs

B] Ministry of Home Affairs

C] Ministry of Corporate Affairs

D] Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to discard its 'Black List' of Indian-origin people, who have taken asylum abroad under the plea of alleged persecution in India.

As per officials, all such people will also be given regular visa as well as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI). The list, which is maintained by Indian missions, is mostly consists of the names of people belonging to the Sikh Community.

Such Indian-origin people can also get OCI cards if they have held normal Indian visas for at least two years.

10. The 2019 Brahmakalashothsava festival has started in which of the following states?

A] Tamil Nadu

B] Kerala

C] Karnataka

D] Andhra Pradesh

The 6-day Brahmakalashothsava festival is celebrated in the ancient Chandkuru Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple annually in Polali, Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka.

The presiding deity of the temple, which has a history of nearly 1,700 years, is Shri Rajarajeshwari. The highlight of this temple is its mud idols and this is probably the only idol of this size (about 9ft height) in Karnataka.

It is in news recently because several Dalits and OBCs from Chandkuru and surrounding villages in Belthangady taluk boycotted festival in a centuries-old temple due to separate seating arrangement had been made for people of the upper caste.


2019 MAY 13

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1. Which Indian personality has been appointed as new SDG Advocate of UN?

A] Chewang Norphel

B] Sonam Wangchuk

C] Jadav Payeng

D] Dia Mirza

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed 17 global figures including Indian actress Dia Mirza and Alibaba chief Jack Ma as the new advocates to drive action and solidify global political will for the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals.

The new class of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advocates are influential public figures committed to raising awareness, inspiring greater ambition and pushing for faster action on the SDGs, which were adopted by world leaders on September 25, 2015.

The other newly-appointed SDG Advocates include Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Founder, Education Above All Foundation (State of Qatar), British screenwriter, producer and film director Richard Curtis, Nobel Laureate Nadia Murad, Director of Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University Jeffrey Sachs, Brazilian footballer and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative, Forest Whitaker.

2. Thopil Mohammed Meeran, who passed away recently, was the renowned novelist of which language?

A] Tamil

B] Telugu

C] Kannada

D] Odia

Thopil Mohammed Meeran (74), the well-known Tamil novelist and Sahitya Akademi awardee, has passed

away at Pettai in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu on May 10, 2019. Born in the coastal hamlet of Thaengaaipattinam in Kanniyakumari district on 26th September 1944, Mohamed Meeran authored the novels - Oru Kadalora Graamaththin Kathai, Thuraimugam, Koonan Thoppu, Saaivu Naarkkaali and Anju Vannam Theru - between 1988 and 2011.

Of these, Saaivu Naarkkaali (The Reclining Chair) bagged him the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 1997. His short story collections — Anbukku Muthumai Illai, Thangarasu, Ananthasayanam Colony, Oru Kutti Theevin Varippadam, Thoppil Mohamed Meeran Kathaigal and Oru Maamaramum Konjam Paravaigalum — and translations gave him a prominent place in the literary world.

3. Which well-known actor has written the novel “Dopehri”?

A] Sanjay Dutt

B] Pankaj Kapur

C] Naseeruddin Shah

D] R. Madhavan

Veteran actor Pankaj Kapur will soon release his debut novel ‘Dopehri’, based on a play of the same name which he wrote and directed several years ago.

“Dopehri” is the story of Amma Bi, an elderly widow who lives alone in her deserted family haveli in Lucknow. Originally written in Hindi, “Dopehri” will be published simultaneously by HarperCollins in three editions: Hindi (in Devanagari script), Hindi (in Urdu script) and in English translation.

4. Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is associated to which of the following countries?

A] Iran, United States and France



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B] Russia, UK and China

C] Germany, Iran and United States

D] All of the above

Iran has recently announced to stop respecting limits on its nuclear activities agreed under a 2015 nuclear deal with major powers until they find a way to bypass renewed US sanctions. The Iran nuclear deal was formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has given an ultimatum of 60 days to remaining signatories - the UK, France, Germany, China and Russia - to implement their promises to protect Iran's oil and banking sectors from US sanctions. The nuclear deal was designed to curb Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

Under the landmark deal, Iran is required to sell its surplus enriched uranium abroad, rather than keep it, thereby allowing it to generate nuclear power without building nuclear weapons. In it, Iran agreed to limit its sensitive nuclear activities and allow in international inspectors in return for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions.

5. Which Indian judge has been appointed as a member of the Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal (CSAT)?

A] T S Thakur

B] Madan Lokur

C] K S Radhakrishnan

D] Kurian Joseph

Justice (Retd.) K S Radhakrishnan has been appointed as a member of the Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal in London. He will render his services as a member of the Tribunal for a period of four years from 1st of June, 2019 to 31st of May, 2023.

Justice Radhakrishnan served as the Chief Justice of the Gujarat and Jammu & Kashmir High Courts before his term in Supreme Court from 2009-2014.

6. India's first UPI Bahi Khata for merchants has been launched by which fintech start-up company?

A] Paytm

B] BharatPe

C] PhonePe

D] MobiKwik

BharatPe has launched India's first UPI Bahi Khata for merchants, which allows merchants to record their cash/ credit (udhar) sales customer wise. It also serves as a networking platform for merchants to connect and collaborate with other BharatPe merchants near them to source and expand their businesses.

BharatPe is the India’s first fintech start-up enabling payments for merchants through interoperable UPI QR codes.

7. India’s newest pit viper has recently found in which of the following states?

A] Mizoram

B] Arunachal Pradesh

C] Odisha

D] Sikkim

A team of herpetologists led by Ashok Captain have described a new species of reddish-brown pit viper — a venomous snake with a unique heat-sensing system — from a forest in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.

The discovery makes the Arunachal pit viper (Trimeresurus arunachalensis) the second serpent to have been discovered after the non-venomous crying keelback in the State’s Lepa-Rada district in 2018.


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The new species also makes Arunachal Pradesh the only Indian state to have a pit viper named after it.

Before the Arunachal Pradesh discovery, India had four brown pit vipers — Malabar, horseshoe, hump-nosed and Himalayan — which were discovered 70 years ago. The discovery was recently published in the March-April volume of the Russian Journal of Herpetology.

8. Who has been elected as Vice-President of Geneva-based International Motorcycle Manufacturers Association (IMMA)?

A] Gautam Adani

B] Ratan Tata

C] Rakesh Sharma

D] Mukesh Ambani

Bajaj Auto Executive Director Rakesh Sharma has been elected as Vice-President of Geneva-based International Motorcycle Manufacturers Association (IMMA) at Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Sharma is a representative of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). IMMA represents the manufacturing industry of powered two wheelers at the global level.

9. Which company has launched the world’s highest-resolution image sensor for smartphones?

A] Apple

B] Samsung

C] Oppo

D] Vivo

Samsung Electronics Co has recently launched the world's highest-resolution image sensor for smartphones at 64-Megapixels to meet the growing demand for mobile devices with better image quality.

The company expands its 0.8μm image sensor lineup with 64Mp ISOCELL Bright GW1 and 48Mp ISOCELL Bright GM2 that allow vibrant ultra-high resolution mobile photography.

10. Which of the following countries participated in the naval exercise ‘Group Sail’ in the disputed South China Sea?

A] Japan, Philippines and India

B] Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia

C] Brunei, Philippines and Taiwan

D] Uniited States, Vietnam and Philippines

Two Indian Navy ships - Guided Missile Destroyer INS Kolkata and Fleet Support Ship INS Shakti carried out a 6-day long exercise ‘Group Sail’ with naval ships of Japan, Philippines and the United States of America (USA) in the disputed South China Sea from 03 May to 09 May 19.

The aim of the Group Sail is to deepen the existing partnership and foster mutual understanding among participating navies. The ships undertook various exercises.

The Group Sail exercise with naval ships of Japan, Philippines and United States showcased India’s commitment towards operating with like-minded nations to ensure safe maritime environment through enhanced interoperability.


2019 MAY 14

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1. Which Indian company has become the official sponsor of the Afghanistan cricket team for the 2019 ICC World Cup?

A] Dabur

B] Sanchi

C] Amul

D] Hindustan Unilever

India's Dairy major Amul will be the principal sponsor of the Afghanistan cricket team for the 2019 ICC World Cup, which will be hosted by England and Wales.

The logo of brand AMUL, which boasts of an annual sales turnover of Rs 45,000 crores, will appear on the Afghanistan team playing jerseys as well as on the training kits throughout the World Cup from May 30 to July 14, 2019.

This is the third time that Amul is sponsoring a cricket team in the World Cup. Earlier, the company had associated with New Zealand and Holland teams. Though Afghanistan participated in the 2015 World Cup as an associate nation, this will be the first time it will feature in a tournament as a full-member.

2. Which of the following countries has officially become the second country in the world to declare a climate emergency

A] Ireland

B] Finland

C] Norway

D] Sweden

After United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland has officially become the 2nd country in the world to declare a climate and biodiversity emergency. It happened after the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) report on Climate Action was accepted by the government and opposition parties without a vote.

An amendment to a parliamentary report declaring a climate emergency and calling on parliament to examine how the Irish government can improve its response to the issue of biodiversity loss was accepted.

Britain’s parliament became the first in the world to declare a climate emergency, passing the largely symbolic motion on May 1.

3. On which date, the 2019 edition of National Technology Day is celebrated in India?

A] May 13

B] May 12

C] May 11

D] May 10

The National Technology Day is celebrated every year in India on May 11. On this day in 1998, India successfully tested its nuclear bombs in Pokhran, Rajasthan.

The tests were conducted under the leadership of Former President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, who was then DRDO Chief, and Dr. R Chidambaran, then Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission. A team of more than 100 scientists, technicians and soldiers were involved in the successfully conducted tests.

4. Y C Deveshwar, who passed away recently, was the noted industry leader of which company?

A] Infosys

B] ITC

C] Bajaj

D] Grasim

Y C Deveshwar (72), the noted industry leader and ITC Chairman, has passed away in Gurugram on May 11, 2019. He was India’s longest serving CEO and had



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received the India's 3rd highest civilian award ‘Padma Bhushan’ in 2011.

He was also a director on the central board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). ITC Limited is an Indian multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal.

5. Which Indian armed force has decided to observe 2019 as ‘Year of Next of Kin’?

A] Indian Navy

B] Indian Air Force

C] Indian Army

D] Indian Coast Guard

The Indian Army has decided to commemorate 2019 as the ‘Year of Next of Kin’ and plans to reach out to the next of kin of battle casualties, ex-servicemen and serving soldiers to inform them of entitled financial benefits, welfare schemes and help resolve pension related problems.

The issue gains importance in light of most next of kin of deceased soldiers being unaware of the financial benefits that are entitled to them. Incorrect and incomplete documentation is a common problem for most of the next of kin, which aggravates their plight.

Indian Army plans to overcome these challenges through its formations and regimental centres. It will also seek the involvement of the defence ministry, Nepal Embassy (due to several soldiers being recruited from Nepal), Sainik Boards, banks and welfare agencies such as the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).

The Directorate of Indian Army Veterans will be the nodal agency. Earlier, the Indian Army marked 2018 as the 'Year of Disabled in the Line of Duty'.

6. Prof. Kirpal Singh, who passed away recently, was the renowned personality in which field?

A] History

B] Geography

C] Economics

D] Science

Prof. Kirpal Singh (95), the renowned Sikh historian and chronicler, has passed away in Chandigarh on May 7. He was the first chronicler of India’s partition. Kirpal had established the Oral History Cell at Punjabi University in 1973 having over 400 statements of eminent persons in several fields.

7. The Supreme Court has recently upheld validity of which state government’s law for reservation in promotion and seniority to SC and ST employees?

A] Kerala

B] Karnataka

C] Andhra Pradesh

D] Telangana

The Supreme Court has recently upheld the constitutional validity of the Karnataka Extension of Consequential Seniority to Government Servants Promoted on the Basis of Reservation (to the Posts in the Civil Services of the State) Act, 2018.

The new Karnataka 2018 law grants reservation in promotion and seniority to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) employees in the state.

This judgment is significant as Karnataka becomes the first State to gain from a Constitution (5-judge) Bench order of September 2018 that modified a 2006 order requiring the States to show quantifiable data to prove the “backwardness” of a SC/ST community in order to provide quota in promotion in public employment.


2019 MAY 14

CURRENT AFFAIRS 3

8. What is the theme of the 2019 edition of World Migratory Bird Day?

A] Unifying our Voices for Bird Conservation

B] A Healthy Planet for Migratory Birds and People

C] Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution

D] Energy – make it bird-friendly

The World Migratory Bird Day is observed every year on 11th of May to raise awareness of issues affecting migratory birds and to inspire people and organizations around the world to take measures for their conservation.

The 2019 theme − “Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution!” − will put the spotlight on the negative impact of plastic pollution on migratory birds and their habitats.

9. WHO has partnered with the International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA) to eliminate industrial trans-fat by which year?

A] 2030

B] 2023

C] 2025

D] 2028

The World Health Organization (WHO) has partnered with the International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA) to achieve its target under REPLACE initiative of eliminating industrial trans-fat from industrially produced global food supply by 2023.

Trans-fat is also called the worst form of fat in food. It is responsible for over 5, 00, 000 deaths from coronary heart disease each year globally.

Industrially-produced trans-fats are contained in hardened vegetable fats, such as margarine and ghee, and are often present in snack food, baked foods, and fried foods.

Manufacturers often use them as they have a longer shelf life than other fats. But healthier alternatives can be used that would not affect taste or cost of food.

10. Where is the headquarters of Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL)?

A] Raipur

B] Ahmedabad

C] Nagpur

D] Navi Mumbai

The Konkan Railways Corporation Ltd (KRCL) has signed a contract agreement with Nepal's Department of Railways to supply two 1600 HP DEMU train sets. These trains will be used to operationalise railway link between Jayanagar in India and Kurtha in Nepal

The train sets will be manufactured by the Integrated Coach Factory, Chennai. The 34 kms Jayanagar-Kurtha Railway Link has been built by IRCON with Government of India financial grant under India-Nepal Development Partnership programme.

The KRCL is a Union Government Company headquartered at CBD Belapur in Navi Mumbai that operates Konkan Railway.


2019 MAY 15

CURRENT AFFAIRS 1


1. Who won the 2019 men's singles title at the Madrid Open Tennis tournament?

A] Roger Federer

B] Stefanos Tsitsipas

C] Novak Djokovic

D] Rafael Nadal

On 12th May 2019, Top seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia beat Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 6-3, 6-4 to win his third Madrid Open Tennis title.

Djokovic lifted the title in Madrid after progressing through the week without losing a set and has now won 33 Masters 1000 titles - the same number as Rafael Nadal and five more than Roger Federer.

2. Andre Russell, who has been named Most Valuable Player at the 2019 IPL tournament, is from which of the following teams?

A] Sunrisers Hyderabad

B] Kolkata Knight Riders

C] Chennai Super Kings

D] Mumbai Indians

On 12th May 2019, Mumbai Indians became IPL champions for the fourth time after defeating Chennai Super Kings by one run in a thrilling final in Hyderabad. Last ball dismissal of Shardul Thakur by paceman Lasith Malinga registered final win for Mumbai over Chennai.

Chasing a victory target of 150 set by Mumbai, Chennai Super Kings were restricted to 148 for 7 in stipulated 20 overs. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the most successful wicket-keeper in the history of IPL by taking his dismissals tally to 132, surpassing his India teammate Dinesh Karthik.

David Warner of Sunrisers Hyderabad won the Orange Cap for the leading run-scorer of the tournament with 692 runs. Imran Tahir, of Chennai Super Kings, was awarded the Purple Cap for finishing as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 26 wickets.

Andre Russell of Kolkata Knight Riders was named Most Valuable Player, also known as Man of the Series, while Shubman Gill also of Kolkata Knight Riders was named the Emerging Player of the Tournament.

3. Which city is organizing the 2019 World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meeting of developing countries?

A] New Delhi

B] Pune

C] Raipur

D] Bhopal

On 13th May 2019, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meeting of developing countries has started in New Delhi. The two-day meeting is being held at a time when the multilateral rule-based-trading system is facing serious and grave challenges.

The meeting will provide an opportunity for the Ministers to discuss various issues and the way forward. Sixteen developing countries and six Least Developed Countries, LDCs are participating in the meeting. It includes China, South Africa, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Bangladesh.

The Director-General of WTO Roberto Azevedo is also participating in the meeting. In two-day meeting following issues are likely to be discussed: Finding a solution to the ongoing impasse in the Appellate Body on an urgent basis.



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4. Hiralal Yadav, who passed away recently, was the veteran musician of which regional cinema?

A] Urdu

B] Bhojpuri

C] Rajasthani

D] Marathi

Hiralal Yadav (93), the Padma Shri awardee Bhojpuri folk singer, has passed away in Chowkaghat, Varanasi on May 12, 2019.

Yadav was felicitated with 2019 Padma Shri award, the country's fourth highest civilian award. In 2015, he was honoured with Yash Bharti award by the UP government for his contribution in the field of music.

5. Which Indian cricketer has been featured in the world’s first exclusive women’s cricket magazine “CRICZONE”?

A] Sophie Devine

B] Harmanpreet Kaur

C] Mithali Raj

D] Smriti Mandhana

The first edition of world's first exclusive women's cricket magazine 'Criczone' has been released in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

In it, Indian team cricket vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has featured as the cover story. The purpose of the magazine is to empower young aspiring women cricketers to take the sport as a profession and able to make a sustainable living.

Top international cricketers like Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana along with overseas players like Danielle Wyatt, Sophie Devine attended the event which is held on the sidelines of the inaugural women's T20 challenge. Yash Lahoti is the publisher of the magazine.

6. Who won the 2019 McCain Institute Award for Courage and Leadership?

A] Rupal Jain

B] Chhaya Sharma

C] Urvashi Chaudhary

D] Deepa Mehta

IPS officer Chhaya Sharma, who led the investigation team of the infamous Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case, has been awarded the 2019 McCain Institute Award for Courage and Leadership.

During her career, Chhaya has led teams in detection and investigation of sensitive criminal cases and protection of human rights. However, solving Nirbhaya's case is considered as the biggest milestone of her career.

In 2017, Chhaya performed a crucial role in drafting Standard Operating Procedures and Guidelines to Combat Trafficking of Persons in India. The award is granted to those who manifest courage on behalf of human rights, humanitarian compassion, justice, freedom, and human dignity. Some of the famous awardees are - Malala Yousafzai (2015) and Dikembe Mutombo (2016).

7. Wilayah of Hind, which is in news recently, is associated to which of the following fields?

A] Human Right award

B] Militant Province

C] Educational Institution

D] Pilgrim

Islamic State (IS) has claimed for the first time that it has established a “province” in India, after a clash between militants and security forces in the Kashmir region killed a militant with alleged ties to the group.


2019 MAY 15

CURRENT AFFAIRS 3

The new ‘province’ is called “Wilayah of Hind” by the militant group. IS’s Amaq News Agency also claimed IS inflicted casualties on Indian Army soldiers in the town of Amshipora in the Shopian district of Kashmir.

IS has stepped up hit-and-run raids and suicide attacks, including taking responsibility for the Easter Sunday bombing in Sri Lanka that killed at least 253 people.

8. What is the theme of the 2019 edition of International Nurses Day?

A] Nurses a Voice to Lead – A vital resource for health

B] Nurses a Voice to Lead – Care Effective, Cost Effective

C] Nurses a Voice to Lead – Health is a Human right

D] Nurses a Voice to Lead – Health for All

The International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on 12 May to highlight the importance of nurses’ role in providing the best healthcare services.

The day also observes the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, who was also known as ‘The Lady with the Lamp’. She was famous as manager and trainer of nurses during the Crimean War. The theme for 2019 is – "Nurses a Voice to Lead – Health for All".

9. Apache Guardian helicopters, sometimes seen in news, is associated to which of the following countries?

A] Japan

B] United States

C] France

D] Germany

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has recently received the first AH-64E (I) - Apache Guardian helicopter at Boeing production facility in Mesa, Arizona in the United States. The AH-64E Apache is a leading multi-role attack helicopter and is flown by the US Army.

The IAF had signed a multi-billion dollar contract with the US government and Boeing Ltd in September 2015 for 22 Apache helicopters.

The first batch of these helicopters is scheduled to be shipped to India by July 2019. The helicopter has been customized to suit IAF’s future requirement.

10. Who has been sworn-in as the new Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court?

A] Dinesh Maheshwari

B] Gangambike Mallikarjun

C] Abhay Shreeniwas Oka

D] Neelamani M Raju

Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka has been sworn-in as the new Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court. Karnataka Governor Vajubhai R Vala administered the oath of office to Justice Oka at the Raj Bhavan.

He succeeded Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, who was elevated as a Supreme Court judge in January 2019.

Justice Oka has given many landmark judgements including those revolving around noise pollution, the rights of atheists and the right to give “no religion” as an option in government application forms, a judgement striking down the beef ban in Maharashtra and encouraging prison reforms, among others.


2019 MAY 16

CURRENT AFFAIRS 1


1. Which of the bowlers has been adjudged as 2019 CEAT International Bowler of the Year?

A] Jasprit Bumrah C] Rashid Khan

B] Kuldeep Yadav D] Ashutosh Aman

Pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who made a mark for India and IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, has been adjudged as International Bowler of the Year during the CEAT Cricket Rating (CCR) International awards 2019. The ceremony was held in Mumbai in presence of a galaxy of past and present cricketers on May 13.

Indian captain Virat Kohli bagged the International Cricketer and Batsman of the Year award. Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan was awarded for outstanding bowling and Australian batsman Aaron Finch for his exceptional performance in T20.

Young prodigy Yashasvi Jaiswal, who performed exceptionally over the year was awarded Junior Cricketer of the Year, while Kuldeep Yadav took the home outstanding performance of the year award.

Ashutosh Aman was awarded Domestic Cricketer of the Year. Legendary Mohinder Amarnath, who played a key role in India's 1983 World Cup triumph, was bestowed with the 'CCR International Lifetime Achievement Award'.

2. The United Nations (UN) has decided to hold its 2020 ocean conference in which of the following cities?

A] New York C] New Delhi

B] Paris D] Lisbon

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has decided to hold the high-level 2020 United Nations Conference in Lisbon, Portugal from June 2 to 6 to support the sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources.

The UNGA also decided that the conference shall involve all relevant stakeholders, bringing together governments, the UN system, intergovernmental organizations and all other actors to assess challenges

and opportunities relating to, as well as actions taken toward, the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14.

3. Who of the following spinners has become the world's most successful women's ODI spinner?

A] Cathryn Fitzpatrick C] Jhulan Goswami

B] Sana Mir D] Rajeshwari Gayakwad

Pakistan off-spinner Sana Mir bagged the title of the most successful women ODI’s spinner in the world after she dismissed Sune Luus from South Africa in the third ODI of ICC Women’s Championship on May 12. It was Sana’s 147th ODI wicket in her 118th appearance.

With this, she jumped to top sending West Indies’ player Anisa Mohammed and Australia’s Lisa Sthalekar on No. 3 on the list of all-time successful bowlers. Overall, Sana Mir is the third highest wicket-taker after pacers Jhulan Goswami of India (218) wickets) and Cathryn Fitzpatrick of Australia (180).

Prior to this, Mir had also become the first Pakistani bowler to head the ICC rankings in October of 2018.

4. Which country has started test run on worlds’ fastest-ever bullet train “Alfa-X”?

A] France C] South Korea

B] Japan D] China

Japan has started testing it’s fastest-ever shinkansen bullet train “Alfa-X”, which is capable of reaching 400 kilometres per hour (249 mph). The train is scheduled to go into service in 2030 and will run at speeds of up to 360 kph (224 mph). With this feat, it will become the world's fastest bullet train.

This bullet train will be even faster than Fuxing train in China, which runs 10 kph slower than Alfa-X. The model's futuristic design features 10 cars and a long pointed nose.



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Alfa-X train is packed with the latest technological features like - vibration sensors, temperature sensors - and its distinct 72 ft long aerodynamic nose is dramatically elongated to minimise noise and pressure when passing through tunnels.

ALFA-X also features sensors to reduce the impact of possible earthquake tremors.

5. Yuvika 2019, which is in news recently, is associated to which of the organizations?

A] ISRO C] BSNL

B] RBI D] DRDO

ISRO Chairman Dr. K Sivan has recently inaugurated Young Scientist Programme (Yuvika-2019) for school children at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

The initiative is primarily aimed at imparting basic knowledge on Space Technology, Space Science and Space Applications to the younger ones with the intent of arousing their interest in the emerging areas of Space activities.

The Yuvika (Yuva VIgyani KAryakram) 2019, which will be conducted from May 13 to 26, is a two week summer vacation residential training programme. It is launched by ISRO in tune with the Union Government’s vision ‘Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan’.

6. Who won the women’s singles title at the 2019 Madrid Open tennis tournament?

A] Serena Williams C] Simona Halep

B] Naomi Osaka D] Kiki Bertens

Kiki Bertens has won women’s singles title at the 2019 Madrid Open tennis tournament. In the final, she defeated Simona Halep 6-4, 6-4 in straight sets to win the coveted title.

7. Which insurance company has recently launched the Mosquito Disease Protection Policy?

A] Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance C] LIC

B] HDFC ERGO D] SBI Life Insurance

HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company has recently launched the 'Mosquito Disease Protection Policy'. This new policy will cover an individual against common mosquito-borne diseases like Dengue Fever, Malaria, Chikungunya, Japanese Encephalitis, Kala-azar, Lymphatic Filariasis and Zika Virus.

According to the report published by National Health Profile 2018, there has been an alarming rise in dengue cases in India, an increase of 300% between 2009-2017. These diseases also lead to hospitalization adding burden on expense or affecting the No Claim Bonus of any standard Health Insurance.

Hence, keeping this in mind, HDFC ERGO launched this new policy which will cover hospitalisation expenses incurred during the treatment of any mosquito-borne disease. Alternatively, the policyholder may opt for a lump sum amount to be paid as a policy benefit on providing the proof of hospitalization.

In addition, the policy will pay the beneficiary the sum insured in case of the policyholder's death due to the disease. This cover is available for individuals between the age group of 91 days to 65 years.

8. Nabventures, which has launched its first-ever venture capital fund for agriculture and rural-focused startups, is the subsidiary of which of the following organizations?

A] ICICI C] NABARD

B] NHB D] SBI

Nabventures, a subsidiary of NABARD, has recently launched it’s first-ever Rs 700-crore venture capital fund for equity investments in agriculture and rural-focused startups.

The fund will have a high impact as it will provide a boost to investment ecosystem in the core areas of


2019 MAY 16

CURRENT AFFAIRS 3

agriculture, food and improvement of rural livelihoods. The Nabventures Fund has a proposed corpus of Rs 500 crore with a greenshoe option of Rs 200 crore and has also received an anchor commitment from NABARD.

Till now, NABARD has been contributing to other funds and this is the first time that the rural development bank has launched a fund of its own. NABARD is now 100% owned by the government, which has been focusing on startups through a slew of measures.

9. Which of the following countries have jointly organized the 2019 ADMM-PLUS maritime exercise?

A] Singapore & India C] Indonesia & Vietnam

B] Singapore & South Korea D] India & New Zealand

The 18 nations ADMM-Plus (Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus) multilateral maritime security field exercise has recently concluded in Singapore on May 13. The exercise was jointly organised by Singapore and South Korea, which was started in Busan on Apr30.

This is the 4th such exercise conducted under the ADMM-Plus grouping. The ADMM-Plus consistes of 10 ASEAN countries along with Australia, China, Japan, India, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.

10. Which country is hosting Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations?

A] Australia C] India

B] China D] New Zealand

China is hosting Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations in close collaboration with UNESCO in its capital city Beijing from 15 to 22 May, 2019. The conference will focus on themes of the exchange and mutual learning of Asia civilizations, and a community of shared future.

During the event, an opening ceremony and six parallel sessions will be held. Other activities include

an Asia cultural carnival, Asian civilization week, and an Asian food festival.

Around 1500 experts from around the world, including heads of state and high-level governmental representatives, are invited to attend the conference which seeks to promote intercultural dialogue in view of building an “Asian Community of Shared Future”.


2019 MAY 17

CURRENT AFFAIRS 1


1. Who has been appointed as the first female match referee by ICC?

A] Mary Waldron C] Shivani Mishra

B] Jacqueline Williams D] G S Lakshmi

India's G.S. Lakshmi has become the first-ever woman to be appointed to ICC’s International Panel of Match Referees and will be eligible to officiate in international games with immediate effect.

Lakshmi, 51, who first officiated as a match referee in domestic women's cricket in 2008-09, has overseen three women's ODI matches and three women's T20 International matches. Her compatriot Claire Polosak recently became the first female umpire to officiate in a men's One-Day International (ODI).

In another major appointment, Australia's Eloise Sheridan has joined Polosak on the ICC Development Panel of Umpires, meaning the number of women on that panel is now up to eight. Lauren Agenbag, Kim Cotton, Shivani Mishra, Sue Redfern, Mary Waldron and Jacqueline Williams are the other women officials on that panel.

2. India has been chosen to co-chair Consultative Group (CG) of GFDRR in which fiscal year?

A] 2021 C] 2022

B] 2023 D] 2020

India has been unanimously chosen as co-chair of the Consultative Group of Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) for the fiscal year 2020. The decision was taken during the meeting of GFDRR held in Geneva, Switzerland on the margins of the 6th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2019.

This will give India an opportunity to work with the member countries and organizations with a focused contribution towards advancing the disaster risk reduction agenda during the course of the year.

The GFDRR is a global partnership that helps developing countries better understand and reduce their vulnerability to natural hazards and climate change. It is is a grant-funding mechanism, managed by the World Bank, that supports disaster risk management projects worldwide.

3. Who has become the world's first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean solo in a Light Sports Aircraft (LSA)?

A] Aarohi Pandit C] Sarla Thakral

B] Durba Banerjee D] Avani Chaturvedi

Captain Aarohi Pandit, a 23-year-old pilot from Mumbai, has become the world's first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean solo in a Light Sports Aircraft (LSA).

She completed the feat when she landed at Iqaluit Airport in Canada on 13 May, having flown there from Wick in the UK. Her journey was broken into five legs, with stops at Iceland and Greenland. It also made Pandit the first female pilot in the world to successfully complete a solo flight across the Greenland ice cap in an LSA.

This is part of her ongoing year-long global circumnavigation flight which was launched by friend Keithair Misquitta on July 30. Both the friends began their trip for Women Empower (WE) Expedition in the tiny aircraft christened ‘Mahi’ in August 2018.

'Mahi' is a tiny, single-engine Sinus 912 weighing a little of 400 kg or nearly equivalent to a Bullet motorcycle, manufactured by Pipistrel of Slovenia, and is also the first LSA registered by Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) India.

4. In Madhya Pradesh, women will handle the entire work of counting votes in which of the following districts?

A] Jabalpur C] Indore

B] Harda D] Burhanpur



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CURRENT AFFAIRS 2

In Madhya Pradesh, women will handle the entire work of counting votes in Harda district of the state. As per reports, the initiative is probably the first of its kind. Harda district is a part of Betul parliamentary seat and the counting of votes of Timarni and Harda assembly segments will take place at Harda district headquarter.

At present, 84 women are being trained for counting in Polytechnic College. Apart from the counting of votes, only women will be deployed for the security of the counting centre. More than 75 percent of voting has been recorded in Harda district, so the number of votes is also high.

5. The scientists at which lab created a new type of plastic ‘PDK’ that can be recycled forever?

A] Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

B] Los Alamos National Laboratory

C] Oak Ridge National Laboratory

D] Argonne National Laboratory

A team of researchers at the US Department of Energy's (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has created a next-generation plastic, called Poly Di-Ketoenamine (or PDK), that can be fully recycled into new materials of any colour, shape, or form, without loss of performance or quality.

They have designed a recyclable plastic that, like a Lego playset, can be disassembled into its constituent parts at the molecular level. According to the journal Nature Chemistry, unlike conventional plastics, the monomers of PDK plastic could be recovered and freed from any compounded additives simply by dunking the material in a highly acidic solution.

6. France and which country have jointly launched a new initiative ‘Christchurch Call’ against online extremism?

A] United Kingdom C] New Zealand

B] Poland D] Germany

At Paris summit, French President Emmanuel Macron and New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern launched an ambitious new initiative to eliminate terrorist and violent content online.

The initiative, "Christchurch Call", was pushed by Ms Ardern after a white supremacist gunned down 51 people at two mosques in the New Zealand city in March. Participants will be asked to commit to pledges to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content on social media and other online platforms

The political meeting will run in parallel to an initiative launched by Macron called 'Tech for Good' which will bring together 80 tech chiefs in Paris to find a way for new technologies to work for the common good.

7. National Vesak Week, which is in news recently, is associated to which of the following religions?

A] Christianism C] Hinduism

B] Jainism D] Buddhism

On May 15, Sri Lanka has declared a National Vesak Week to mark the most significant event for Buddhists all over the world. The festival commemorates the birth, enlightenment (Buddhahood), and death (Parinirvāna) of Gautama Buddha in the Theravada or southern tradition.

The Vesak Festival- 2019 will be held under tight security and people have been encouraged to organize celebrations at Buddhist temples and not in public places in the wake of Easter Sunday attacks last month.

The state Vesak festival will be held in Galle under the patronage of the President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe.

8. Who has been appointed head coach of the Indian men's senior football team?

A] Hakan Ericson C] Igor Stimac


2019 MAY 17

CURRENT AFFAIRS 3

B] Albert Roca D] Lee Min-Sung

Croatian World Cupper Igor Stimac has been appointed head coach of the Indian men's senior football team for a two-year term. The national team has been without a coach since the departure of Stephen Constantine in January, following the creditable show at the AFC Asian Cup.

Stimac comes with an experience of over 18 years in coaching. As a coach, Stimac’s major achievement was guiding Croatia to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. As a player, he was part the of the Croatia team that finished third in the 1998 World Cup.

9. Lecanorchis taiwaniana, which is in news recently, has discovered in which of the following Indian states?

A] Meghalaya C] Mizoram

B] Nagaland D] Assam

In Assam, a type of orchid - Lecanorchis taiwaniana (parasitic bloom) - has coincidentally discovered by Assam’s forest officer named Jatindra Sarma.

The parasitic bloom is a variant of a Japanese orchid. It is found to have a maximum height of 40 cm and a blossoming period of five-six days.

It is a Myco-heterotroph and is one of two types of parasitic plants that have abandoned photosynthesis. The discovery titled “New record for the flora in India” is recently published in Japanese Journal of Botany.

10. Teressa Island is located in which of the following union territories of India?

A] Lakshadweep C] Puducherry

B] Andaman & Nicobar D] Daman & Diu

On May 9, the Indian Armed Forces carried out Exercise Bull Strike at Teressa Island in Andaman and Nicobar (A&N). The military drill was conducted to showcase joint operations capability of the armed forces.

During the exercise, the army personnel got the chance to display their prowess by undertaking company level airborne operation at Teressa Island.

Around 170 troops from three services – Army, Navy and the Air force undertook Para drop Ops in a Combat Free Fall & Static Line mode from the C-130 J. There were 149 Indian Army, 12 Indian Air Force and 9 Indian Navy soldiers who participated in several combat drills ahead of the jumps and during jumps.


2019 MAY 18 & 19

CURRENT AFFAIRS 1


1. Which country to host the 2023 Asian Cup Football tournament?

A] Japan C] South Korea

B] India D] China

The 2023 Asian Cup Football tournament will be hosted by China after South Korea withdraws its bid. The Korea Football Association (KFA) said in a statement it had pulled out to “strategically focus” on a joint bid with North Korea to host the Women’s World Cup in the same year.

The 2023 AFC Asian Cup is the quadrennial international men’s football championship of Asia organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

2. Which of the following organizations has released the ‘Payment and Settlement Systems in India: Vision 2019 – 2021’?

A] SBI C] IRDA

B] SEBI D] RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released a vision document - Payment and Settlement Systems in India: Vision 2019 – 2021 - with its core theme of ‘Empowering Exceptional E-payment Experience’, for ensuring a safe, secure, convenient, quick and affordable e-payment system.

The move comes as the apex bank expects the number of digital transactions to increase more than four times to 8,707 crore in December 2021.

The vision document has been envisages to achieve a highly digital and cash-less society through the goal posts of competition, cost-effectiveness, convenience and confidence (4Cs).

The document talks about creating customer awareness, setting up a 24X7 helpline and self-regulatory organisation for system operators and service providers, among others. And also, the ‘no-

compromise’ approach towards safety and security of payment systems remains a hallmark of the vision.

3. Which country has recently blocked all language editions of Wikipedia?

A] United States C] China

B] Iran D] Russia

China has expanded its ban on Wikipedia to block the community-edited online encyclopedia in all available languages. Hence, Wikipedia had joined thousands of other websites which cannot be accessed in China.

According to a report by the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI), China started blocking all language editions of Wikipedia from April 2019.

China's online censorship apparatus -- dubbed the ‘Great Firewall’ - blocks a large number of foreign sites in the country, such as Google, Facebook, LinkedIn and The New York Times. Topics that are deemed too sensitive are also scrubbed.

An earlier enforced ban barred Internet users from viewing the Chinese version, as well as the pages for sensitive search terms such as Dalai Lama and the Tiananmen massacre.

4. Which Indian judge has been appointed as Judge of Supreme Court of Fiji?

A] Sharad Arvind Bobde C] Madan B Lokur

B] N V Ramana D] Abhay Manohar Sapre

Justice Madan B Lokur, the Retired Supreme Court judge of India, has been appointed to the Supreme Court of Fiji as a judge of its non-resident panel.

He he received the offer from the Chief Justice of the Fiji Supreme Court on the day of his superannuation from the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court of Fiji has three sessions in a year. Justice Lokur will attend the August session from August 15 to August 30, 2019.



2019 MAY 18 & 19

CURRENT AFFAIRS 2

5. The first full-fledged Services Selection Board (SSB) of Indian Navy has opened in which of the following cities?

A] Kolkata C] Kochi

B] Chennai D] Mumbai

The first full-fledged Services Selection Board (SSB) of Indian Navy has been inaugurated by Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba at Diamond Harbour near Kolkata.

The SSB (Kolkata) will boost the induction of officers, both men and women, into the Indian Navy. Its location will reduce the travel time and effort for candidates from northern and northeastern parts of the country.

This is the fifth SSB of the Indian Navy and will cater for selection of both permanent and short service commission officers. The other boards are located in Bhopal, Bengaluru, Visakhapatnam and Coimbatore.

6. Who has been appointed as the new CMD of ITC Ltd?

A] Sanjay Kishan Kaul C] Ajay Khanwilkar

B] L. Nageswara Rao D] Sanjiv Puri

Sanjiv Puri has been appointed as the new CMD (Chairman and managing director) of ITC Ltd, India’s largest cigarette maker. He will take over the legacy of noted industry leader and erstwhile ITC Chairman Y.C. Deveshwar, who passed away on 11 May.

Prior to this post, Mr. Puri was the Managing Director since 2018. He was appointed on the board in December 2015 and as the CEO in February 2017.

7. What is the theme of the 2019 edition of International Day of Families?

A] Families and inclusive societies

B] Families and Climate Action: Focus on SDG 13

C] Families, education and well-being

D] Families, healthy lives and sustainable future

The International Day of Families is observed every year on May 15 to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.

The 2019 theme “Families and Climate Action: Focus on SDG 13” focuses on families, family policies and major SDG 13 targets such as improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, and impact reduction and early warning.

8. Which of the following banks has launched co-branded multi-currency travel card with Goibibo?

A] SBI C] HDFC Bank

B] ICICI Bank D] Axis Bank

ICICI Bank has launched a co-branded multi-currency card with online travel booking portal Goibibo. Anyone travelling abroad, whether they hold an ICICI Bank savings account or not, can apply for the Goibibo ICICI Bank Travel Card on the Goibibo website & mobile app.

The acceptance of the card is across 200 countries and 4.6 crore merchants globally. Further, the card can be loaded with up to 15 currencies. Customers can instantly transfer money from one currency to another through ICICI Bank’s internet portal and reload currency into the card anytime, anywhere, using the bank’s mobile and internet banking platform. Customers get 40 paise discount on currency conversion rate on loading of a minimum of $1,000.

9. Who has been appointed as the new chairperson of News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA)?

A] S. Abdul Nazeer C] Arjan Kumar Sikri

B] Navin Sinha D] Vineet Saran

Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri, the former judge of Supreme Court of India (SCI), has been appointed as the chairperson of News Broadcasting Standards


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Authority (NBSA) by the News Broadcasters Association (NBA).

He will succeed Justice (Retd.) R. V. Raveendran, and will assume the office of Chairperson of NBSA on May 26. This is an honorary post and not a government job.

NBSA is an independent body for self-regulation of 24x7 news channels, who are members of the NBA. Its task is to consider and adjudicate upon complaints about broadcasts.

10. The 2019 International Army Scout Masters Competition will be held in which of the following cities?

A] Jhansi C] Jabalpur

B] Dehradun D] Jaisalmer

The 5th edition of “International Army Scout Masters Competition” will be organized under the aegis of Konark Corps at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan from 24 July to 17 August 2019.

This is the first time that India is the venue for the Army Scouts Masters Competition, which is part of International Army Games steered by Russia. It is also for the first time that an Indian team will participate in this competition.

The event will witness participation of the Mechanised Infantry Scout Teams of 8 countries including Russia who is the founding member of this format of International Army Games.

The competition will be conducted in five stages, which will test the overall skills of Mechanised Infantry Scouts in simulated battle field scenarios.

The combat skills will be adjudicated by a panel of international judges and referees. The competition will showcase combat training and promote camaraderie amongst the contestants, facilitate sharing of best practices as well as develop military and technical cooperation between participating nations.


2019 MAY 20

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1. The Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI) is associated to which of the following organizations?

A] OECD C] United Nations

B] IMF D] World Bank

India has found problems with the current method under which the OECD index – Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI) – ranks countries based on their services trade policies. As per study commissioned by Indian Ministry of Commerce, the outcomes of index are biased and counter-intuitive.

For example, the index seems to show the Indian services sector as one of the most restrictive, particularly in policy areas like foreign entry. This seems surprising as since 1991, the one area that has seen maximum liberalization in India is Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

The initial work suggests that there are both theoretical and practical inconsistencies in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) methodology.

In order to rectify this, the Indian team of econometricians designed a new way of measuring restrictiveness in the services trade that would be more robust and would not have a bias either for developed or developing countries.

2. ICGS Vigraha, which is recently decommissioned at Visakhapatnam, is which class of offshore patrol vessel?

A] Samar C] Priyadarshini

B] Jija Bai D] Vikram

After 29 glorious years of service from 1990 to 2019, the Indian Coast Guard ship (ICGS) Vigraha has recently decommissioned at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on May 16.

During the 29 years of service, the ship has participated in major coast guard operations involving search and rescue, anti-poaching, disaster relief and joint exercises among others.

ICGS Vigraha was the 7th Vikram-class offshore patrol vessel built by the Mazagaon Dock Limited, Mumbai and it was commissioned on April 12, 1990.

3. What is the theme of the 2019 edition of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day?

A] Women and Girls in ICT

B] Bridging the standardization gap

C] Enabling the positive use of Artificial Intelligence

D] Big Data for Big Impact

The World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is observed across the globe every year on May 17 to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide.

The 2019 theme is ‘Bridging the standardization gap’. The day also marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention (ITC) and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

4. Cocos (Keeling) Islands is an external territory of which of the following countries?

A] India C] Sri Lanka

B] Australia D] Indonesia

A comprehensive survey on plastic pollution has been conducted by marine scientists on the Australian external territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Around 600 people live in these remote places, which are sometimes described as “Australia's last unspoilt paradise”.

The scientists found an estimated 414 million pieces of plastic including nearly one million shoes and 370,000 toothbrushes on the beaches of remote Islands in the



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Indian Ocean. The survey published in the journal ‘Scientific Reports’ estimated that the beaches on the islands are littered with 238 tonnes of plastic.

5. Which of the sculptors has topped the first edition of the Hurun India Art List?

A] Subodh Gupta B] Akbar Padamsee

C] Anish Kapoor D] Krishen Khanna

With sales estimated at Rs. 168.25 crore, London-based sculptor Anish Kapoor has topped the first edition of the Hurun India Art List. He is followed by artists Akbar Padamsee and Krishen Khanna, whose works were sold for Rs 45.84 crore and Rs 9.48 crore respectively.

The Hurun Research Institute has ranked the top 50 Indian artists alive based on the sales of their works at public auction from April 2018 to March 2019. The report is based on data from top auction-houses and agencies in the industry.

Hurun Report India in association with ArtPrice.com has recently unveiled the first edition of its India Art List, in which 24% of artists listed were women.

Mr. Kapoor is known for using granite, marble, limestone and plaster to make geometric structures. He is the only artist to own the exclusive right to use the ‘blackest black’ pigment in the world developed by Vantablack.

6. Kadavoor Sivadasan, who passed away recently, was the veteran politician of which of the following parties?

A] CPI C] INC

B] AIADMK D] BJP

Kadavoor Sivadasan (87), the veteran Congress leader and former Kerala Minister, has passed away in Thiruvananthapuram on May 17, 2019.

7. Who is the author of the book "Coming Round the Mountain"? (Marks: 0)

A] Ruskin Bond C] Devdutt Pattanaik

B] Ashok Rajagopalan D] Anushka Ravishankar

The book titled “Coming Round the Mountain”, will be released officially by India's beloved children's author Ruskin Bond on his 85th birthday on 19th May 2019 at Cambridge bookstores in Mussourie.

The book is the third installment of Bond's award-winning memoir series for children that includes "Looking for the Rainbow" and “Till the Clouds Roll By”.

8. Which Bollywood personality has been felicitated by Council of European Chambers of Commerce (CEUCC) for promoting Children Rights?

A] Aamir Khan C] Akshay Kumar

B] Ajay Devgn D] Anil Kapoor

Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor has been felicitated by Council of European Chambers of Commerce (CEUCC) in India and a European Union delegation as part of the ‘Europe Day’ celebrations in Mumbai on May 17.

He has been felicitated for his decade-long support to promoting the cause of children's rights and his collaboration with the EU and Plan India in their girls' rights endeavours.

The event also highlighted how Europe has always been a favourite shooting destination for Indian filmmakers for many decades. The Europe Day is celebrated every year on May 9 to mark the formation of the European Union (EU).

9. Which Indian personality has been awarded the UN Sasakawa Award 2019 for Disaster Risk Reduction?

A] Ajit Kumar Doval C] P K Mishra

B] Kunal Sinha D] Nripendra Mishra

Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra, Odisha-born IAS officer and Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime


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Minister of India, has been conferred with the prestigious United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction for the year 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland.

He received the 2019 Sasakawa award in recognition of his long-term dedication to improve the resilience of communities most exposed to disasters and his personal commitment to social inclusion as a critical principle to reduce inequality and poverty, enhancing the safety net of the socially and economically marginalized.

The UN Sasakawa Award is the most prestigious international award in the area of Disaster Risk Management. It was instituted more than 30 years ago and is jointly organized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Nippon Foundation.

A total grant of USD 50,000 is distributed among the winners which can be either organizations or individuals. The theme of the 2019 Sasakawa award was “Building Inclusive and Resilient Societies”.

10. The tripartite MoU signed between NMCG, HCL Foundation and INTACH for Rudraksh Plantation in which of the following states?

A] Uttar Pradesh C] Uttarakhand

B] West Bengal D] Bihar

As an initiative towards a greener ecosystem in Ganga Basin, the tripartite MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed between National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), HCL Foundation and INTACH for taking up a project of ‘Plantation of Rudraksh Trees in Uttarakhand’ under the ‘Namami Gange’ Programme.

The aim of the project is to plant 10 thousand Rudraksh trees in the catchment area of river Ganga in Uttarakhand in association with local community and other stakeholders. It will also help in generating income for people residing in those areas.

The aim of the Namami Gange Mission is to provide comprehensive and sustainable solutions for a cleaner ecosystem along the stretch of 97 towns and over 4 thousand 4 hundred villages on the Ganga stem and a public-private partnership will provide the initiative a much-needed impetus.


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1. What is the theme of the 2019 edition of World Metrology Day?

A] The International System of Units – Light

B] The International System of Units – Commerce

C] The International System of Units – Transport

D] The International System of Units - Fundamentally better

The World Metrology Day (WMD) is observed every year on May 20 to commemorate anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention in 1875.

The treaty provides the basis for a coherent measurement system worldwide that underpins scientific discovery and innovation, industrial manufacturing and international trade, as well as the improvement of the quality of life and the protection of the global environment. The 2019 theme is “The International System of Units - Fundamentally better”.

2. Who clinched the men’s title at the 2019 Italian Open Tennis tournament?

A] Novak Djokovic C] Rafael Nadal

B] Andy Murray D] Roger Federer

In Tennis, defending champion Rafael Nadal of Spain has clinched the Italian Open 2019 title after beating Novak Djokovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 in the final in Rome on May 19. This is Nadal's ninth Italian Open title. It is the 81st title of Nadal's career.

Nadal also broke a tie with Djokovic by claiming a record 34th ATP Masters 1000 crown. Whereas, in Women's single Czech's Karolina Pliskova registered two straight-set victory against Britain's Johanna Konta 6-3, 6-4 to claim the Italian Open title.

3. The researchers at which Canadian university has developed a specialized microscope that can diagnose skin cancer & perform surgeries?

A] University of British Columbia

B] McGill University

C] University of Toronto

D] Mount Royal University

The researchers at University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada have developed a specialized microscope that has the potential to diagnose diseases like skin cancer as well as perform precise surgery without making any incisions in the skin.

According to the study published in the journal Science Advances, the microscope allows medical professionals to pinpoint the exact location of an abnormality, diagnose it and treat it instantly.

This technology will make possible to scan tissue quickly, and when they see a suspicious or abnormal cell structure, they can perform ultra-precise surgery and selectively treat the unwanted or diseased structure within the tissue.

It could be used to treat any structure of the body that can be reached by light and requires extremely precise treatment, including nerves or blood vessels in the skin, eye, brain or other vital structures.

The study shows that the device allows imaging of living tissue up to about one millimetre in depth using an ultrafast infrared laser beam.

4. Which committee has recently submitted report on digital payments to RBI?

A] Kishore Sansi committee

B] Nandan Nilekani committee

C] H R Khan committee

D] Aruna Sharma committee

A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) - appointed committee headed by Aadhaar architect Nandan Nilekani



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submitted its report on promoting digital payments to RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on May 17.

The RBI will examine the recommendations of the committee and will link the action points, wherever necessary, in its Payment Systems Vision 2021 for implementation.

Earlier this week, the RBI released the ‘Payment and Settlement Systems in India: Vision 2019 – 2021’, for ensuring a safe, secure, convenient, quick and affordable e-payment system with an aim making India a ‘cash-lite’ society.

5. Which state has become the first Indian state to list Masala Bond in overseas market?

A] Kerala B] Odisha

C] Andhra Pradesh D] Karnataka

On May 17, Kerala became the first sub-sovereign entity in the country to access the international market by listing masala bonds issued through its off-budget mechanism - the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has become the debutant head of state in the country to open trading at the London Stock Exchange (LSE) for the day.

The resources earned through the bonds would be channelised for funding a clutch of infrastructure development projects cleared by the KIIFB director board. KIIFB is a state agency that mobilises fund for infrastructural projects, over and beyond funds earmarked in the budgets.

6. Ieoh Ming Pei, who passed away recently, was the renowned architect of which country?

A] Japan C] Singapore

B] South Korea D] China

Ieoh Ming Pei (102), the Chinese-American architect behind buildings including the glass pyramid outside the Louvre in Paris, has passed away in Manhattan,

United States on May 16, 2019. Pei sparked controversy for his pyramid at the Louvre Museum.

The glass structure, completed in 1989, is now one of Paris' most famous landmarks. His other work includes Dallas City Hall and Japan's Miho Museum. In 1983, Pei was given the prestigious Pritzker Prize.

7. On which date, the 2019 edition of World AIDS Vaccine Day is observed?

A] May 18 C] May 19

B] May 20 D] May 21

The World AIDS Vaccine Day is observed every year on 18th May to spread awareness about the urgent need for a vaccine to prevent HIV infection and AIDS. The day is also known as HIV Vaccine Awareness Day.

It is also a day to thank volunteers, researchers, scientists, community member, health professionals and everyone else who is working to eradicate the disease and find ways for safe and effective HIV vaccines.

8. The 26th naval drill exercise “SIMBEX-19” has started between India and which of the following countries?

A] Singapore C] Sweden

B] South Africa D] Saudi Arabia

The 26th edition of Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX)-19 has commenced in the South China Sea on May 19.

The 4-day naval drill exercise will include various maritime combat drills such as advanced aerial tracking, coordinated targeting tactical exercises and weapon firing on aerial and surface targets.

In addition to IN Ships Kolkata and Shakti, Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I will also participate in the exercise along with Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) Ships steadfast and valiant, maritime patrol aircraft F-50 and F-16 fighter aircraft.


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9. Which of the following mountaineers has successfully scaled Mt. Everest for record 23rd time?

A] Dachhiri Sherpa C] Kami Rita Sherpa

B] Phurba Tashi Sherpa D] Apa Sherpa

A renowned Nepali mountaineer, Kami Rita Sherpa has created history by successfully scaling the Mount Everest peak (8848m) for the 23rd time on May 14, 2019.

He broke his own record of the most successful ascents of the world's highest peak. Kami Rita, who is from Thame village in Solukhumbu district, scaled the Mount Everest for the first on May 13, 1994.

He has already climbed most of the peaks above 8,000 m including K2, Cho-Oyu, Lhoste, and Annapurna among others. He is currently working as a senior guide at Seven Summit Treks.

10. Project SPARROW, which is in news recently, is associated to which of the following union ministries?

A] Ministry of Finance C] Ministry of Home Affairs

B] Ministry of Railways D] Ministry of Defence

The Union Ministry of Finance has launched Project Sparrow for online writing of Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR) in SPARROW (Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window) for Group ‘B’ and ‘C’ Officers of Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC).

SPARROW-CBIC is one of its kinds in terms of Scale/ number of employees covered as far as Central Government Departments are concerned. It brings a complete change in APAR management of such large number of Group ‘B’ & ‘C’ Officers/ Staff of CBIC, which would, in turn, lead to better HR Management.

This Project leverages modern technology for enhancing the overall efficiency and morale of the huge workforce working in Central GST and Customs formations of CBIC. The Project is an important milestone in the journey towards digitization and paper less working.


2019 MAY 22

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1. Who has officially been elected as the new President of Indonesia?

A] Maruf Amin B] Prabowo Subianto

C] Joko Widodo D] Sandiaga Uno

Joko Widodo has been officially re-elected to a second term as President of Indonesia. Widodo and his vice-presidential running mate Ma'ruf Amin won the election by a 55.5% to 44.5% margin over rival Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno.

The two rival election campaigns focused on the economy, infrastructure and corruption. Religion was also a core issue. Though Indonesia has no official state religion and the right to practise other faiths is enshrined in the constitution, some 80% of the country is Muslim.

2. Christchurch Call to Action, which is in news recently, is the brainchild of which of the following countries?

A] Canada & UK C] Germany & Spain

B] New Zealand & France D] Netherlands & Sweden

India has recently signed the new global anti-terror initiative ‘Christchurch Call to Action’, which is the brainchild of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron to fight terrorism.

The document was signed and adopted with participation from 26 nations, including France, New Zealand, European Commission, Ireland, Norway, Senegal, Canada, Jordan, UK, Indonesia, Australia, Germany, Japan, Spain, Netherlands and Sweden.

The agreement came in the backdrop of the attacks on mosques on 15th March 2019 and is aimed at stopping abuse of the Internet by extremists.

The meeting held in Paris was attended by representatives of online giants like Microsoft, Google, Twitter, Facebook and Amazon. India was represented by Ajay Prakash Sawhney, Secretary.

3. Which country has become the first in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage?

A] Japan B] Taiwan

C] Indonesia D] Malaysia

On May 17, Taiwan has become the first in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage with the passage of legislation giving gay couples the right to marry.

The vote allows same-sex couples full legal marriage rights, including in areas such as taxes, insurance, and child custody. Taiwan is a self-governing democracy with a vibrant civil society.

4. Who has been honored with the 2019 JFK Profile in Courage Award?

A] Paul Ryan B] Kevin McCarthy

C] Nancy Pelosi D] Charles Manatt

An American politician, Nancy Pelosi has been honored with the 2019 John F Kennedy Profile in Courage Award at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.

She has been recognized for her efforts to pass former President Barack Obama’s 2010 health care law and for helping Democrats reclaim control of the U.S. House during last year’s elections. Pelosi is serving as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives since January 2019.

5. Which International organization has celebrated the 2nd edition of International Day of Light?

A] UNESCO B] UNICEF

C] UNIDO D] UNWTO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has celebrated the 2nd edition of International Day of Light (IDL-2019) on 16th May to mark the role light plays in our daily lives.



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IDL aims to raise awareness of the critical role light-based technologies play in our lives, elevating science, technology, art, and culture to help achieve the goals of UNESCO – education, equality, and peace.

The day marks the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser beam in 1960 by famous physicist and engineer - Theodore Maiman.

6. Who has been appointed as the new Pakistan High Commissioner to India?

A] Masood Khalid C] Imtiaz Ahmad

B] Mueenul Haq D] Zaheer Janjua

Mueenul Haq, the current ambassador to France, has been appointed as the new Pakistan High Commissioner to India. The post of high commissioner to India fell vacant after Sohail Mehmood was appointed the foreign secretary in March 2019.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has recently approved the appointments of over two dozen ambassadors in various countries including India and China.

7. Niki Lauda, who passed away recently, was associated to which sports?

A] Chess C] Sprint

B] Judo D] Motor Racing

Niki Lauda (70), the 3-time Formula One world champion, has passed away in Vienna, Austria on May 20, 2019. One of the best-known figures in motor racing, Lauda took the title for Ferrari in 1975 and 1977 and McLaren in 1984.

8. The researchers at which space agency has found evidence of water, organics on Kuiper Belt object ‘Ultima Thule’?

A] NASA C] ISRO

B] CNES D] JAXA

The researchers at NASA space agency has found evidence for a unique mixture of methanol, water ice, and organic molecules on the surface of Ultima Thule, which is located in the Kuiper Belt - beyond the orbit of Neptune.

The mixture is very different from most icy objects explored previously by spacecraft. Ultima Thule (also known as 2014 MU69) is 4 billion miles from Earth and has captured scientists' curiosity since they discovered it had a snowman-like appearance.

9. PCT Humanity has set the new Guinness World Records for holding longest iftar. Who is the founder of the charity?

A] Sanjay Pandey C] Himanshu Sangwani

B] Ramesh Iyer D] Joginder Singh Salaria

PCT Humanity, a charity run by an Indian in the UAE, has set the new Guinness Book of World Records for its hunger relief efforts during the holy month of Ramzan in Abu Dhabi.

Joginder Singh Salaria, founder of Pehal charitable Trust (PCT), said the efforts were in continuation to the vegetarian iftar held daily at the premises of his company Pehal International, Dubai Industrial Park. The charity set the new Guinness World Records for “Longest Line of Hunger Relief Package” in Abu Dhabi.

10. What is the theme of the 2019 edition of International Museum Day (IMD)? (Marks: 0)

A] Museums as Cultural Hubs: The Future of Tradition

B] Museums and Cultural Landscapes

C] Hyper-connected museums: New approaches

D] Museums for peace and harmony in society

The International Museum Day is observed every year on May 18 to raise awareness about the importance of museums as means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.


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1. Which of the following social media platforms has become the team sponsor of Indian Wheelchair Cricket Association for 2019 Asia Cup?

A] Instagram B] Twitter

C] Helo D] Facebook

India’s social media platform - Helo has become the official team sponsor of Indian Wheelchair Cricket Association for 2019 Asia Cup, which has started on May 15 in Nepal. This association makes Helo the first social media app to host and promote Indian Wheelchair Cricket on its platform.

As part of the association, Helo will now be the official digital media partner for the team during the tournament. The Wheelchair Cricket Association is affiliated to the Disabled Sporting Society and has 16 state teams under it. The players are 70-90 per cent physically challenged and will do batting, bowling, fielding and running on wheelchairs only.

2. Jokha Alharthi, who won the 2019 Man Booker International Prize, is from which country?

A] Iran C] Saudi Arabia

B] UAE D] Oman

An author from Oman, Jokha Alharthi has won the prestigious 2019 Man Booker International Prize for her novel “Celestial Bodies”.

Her novel tells the story of three sisters of a desert country confronting its slave-owning past and a complex modern world. With this feat, Alharthi has become the 1st Arabic language writer to take the prize.

The prestigious 50,000-pound (Over 44 lakh rupees) prize, which celebrates translated fiction from around the world, is divided equally between the author and the translator. Alharthi's translator was U.S. academic Marilyn Booth, who teaches Arabic literature at Oxford University.

The prize is a counterpart to the Man Booker Prize for English-language novels and is open to books in any language that has been translated into English. This is the final year of the prize being sponsored by investment firm Man Group, which has backed the prizes for 18 years. From next year, the award will be known as the International Booker Prize.

3. ISRO has successfully launched its radar imaging satellite RISAT-2B through which launch vehicle?

A] PSLV C-44 B] PSLV C-46

C] PSLV C-47 D] PSLV C-45

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched its newest microwave earth observation satellite RISAT-2B from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota through its trusted workhorse PSLV-C46.

The 615-kg RISAT-2B meant for application in fields such as surveillance, agriculture, forestry and disaster management support. It will replace the RISAT-2, which was launched in 2009. The new satellite will enhance India's all-weather capabilities in agriculture, forestry and disaster management.

Its X-band synthetic aperture radar can give added details such as size of objects on Earth, structures, movement and change. The information will complement data from the normal optical remote -sensing satellites. Such data are useful for agencies that need ground imageries during cloud, rain and in the dark.

4. The 8th Indo-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol (IMCOR-2019) has started at which of the following sites?

A] Port Blair B] Minicoy

C] Kavaratti D] Daman and Diu



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The 8th edition of Indo-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol (IMCOR-2019) has started at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Command on May 20.

The CORPAT (coordinated patrol) initiative between Indian and Myanmar navies is meant to address issues of terrorism, illegal fishing, drug trafficking, human trafficking, poaching and other illegal activities inimical to interest of both nations.

Myanmar ships - UMS King TabinShweHtee and UMS Inlay - would undertake a coordinated patrol with Indian Naval Ship Saryu from 20 – 28 May 19.

The ships would patrol along the International Maritime Boundary Line between the two countries covering a distance of approximately 725 Kms over a period of four days.

5. Priyanka Mohite, who has become the first Indian woman to successfully scale Mount Makalu, is from which state?

A] Karnataka B] Chhattisgarh

C] Kerala D] Maharashtra

Priyanka Mohite, the 26-year-old Satara based mountaineer, has become the first Indian woman to successfully scale Mount Makalu — the fifth-highest mountain in the world at 8,481 metres.

Earlier, in May 2018, Priyanka managed to scale Mount Lhotse, which is the fourth highest mountain in the world. In 2013, Mohite had become the youngest girl from her state to have conquered the 8,848m Mount Everest — the highest peak in the world — becoming only the third-youngest Indian to do so.

Mt Makalu is located in the Mahalangur Himalayas, 19 km south-east of Mount Everest, on the border between Nepal and China. The first climb on Makalu was made by an American team led by Riley Keegan in 1954.

6. Which of the following countries has launched the permanent residency system “Golden Card”?

A] UAE C] India

B] Myanmar D] Sri Lanka

The Prime Minister of United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum has launched the permanent residency system “Golden Card” for expats investors, entrepreneurs, specialized talents and researchers to be a part of the UAE’s success story.

The move is expected to attract more Indian professionals and businessmen to the Gulf nation. The new permanent visa will generate foreign investment, encourage entrepreneurship, and attract top engineers, scientists and students.

The new permanent residency initiative has identified the first 6,800 qualified expats from over 70 countries, to benefit from the Golden Card scheme.

7. Which Indian diplomat will be conferred the Japan' s second highest national award- The Order of the Rising Sun?

A] Sujatha Singh C] Nirupama Rao

B] Shivshankar Menon D] Shyam Saran

Shyam Saran, an Indian career diplomat, will be conferred with Japan's second highest national award- The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold & Silver Star.

He will be awarded in 2019 Spring Imperial Decorations for his contributions to strengthen the strategic ties and enhancing mutual understanding between India and Japan.

He was India's Foreign Secretary during 2004-2006. During his tenure, the then Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited India for the first time in 5 years. His contributions in strengthening mutual understanding between Japan and India includes "India Festival", which was held in Japan in 1988, when


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he was Deputy Chief of Mission of Embassy of India in Japan.

Since 2017, Saran has been enhancing mutual understanding between the two countries, such as by hosting an "India-Japan Colloquium".

8. Which Indian peacekeeper will be honoured posthumously with 2019 UN Dag Hammarskjold Medal?

A] Gautam Bambawale C] Atul Khare

B] Raveesh Kumar D] Jitender Kumar

Police Officer Jitender Kumar is among the 119 military, police and civilian personnel who will be honoured with a prestigious 2019 UN Dag Hammarskjold Medal for courage and sacrifice in the line of duty.

Kumar made the supreme sacrifice while serving in the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin would collect the medal on behalf of the fallen Indian peacekeeper at a solemn ceremony on May 29 as the world organisation observes the 2019 International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. India is the fourth largest contributor of uniformed personnel to the UN peacekeeping.

9. On which date, the 2019 edition of National Anti Terrorism Day is observed in India?

A] May 20 C] May 21

B] May 19 D] May 22

The National Anti-Terrorism Day is celebrated every year in India on May 21 to generate awareness in the country among all sections of people, about the danger of terrorism and violence and its effect on the people, society and the country as a whole.

It was on this day in 1991, the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated while attending a rally in Tamil Nadu. The aim behind the observance of Anti-

Terrorism Day is to wean away the people from terrorism and violence.

10. Which of the following High courts has ruled that the United Nations is not a State under Article 12 of the Constitution of India?

A] Delhi High Court

B] Madras High Court

C] Bombay High Court

D] Calcutta High Court

The Delhi High Court has ruled that the United Nations (UN) is not a State under Article 12 of the Constitution of India and is not amenable to its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution.

The judgment was passed by a single-judge Bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait in a petition concerning the immunity enjoyed by the UNO under the United Nations (Privileges and Immunities) Act, 1947.

The petition was filed by a former UNO employee who was found guilty of misconduct pursuant to the findings of a Procurement Task Force (PTF). Sanjaya Bahel, convicted by a US Federal Court and sentenced to 97 months of imprisonment and two years of mandatory probation, was released and deported to India in May 2014. In his petition, he claimed that due process was not followed in his case.


2019 MAY 24

CURRENT AFFAIRS 1


1. Who has been elected as the new President of South Africa?

A] Julius Malema B] Thabo Mbeki

C] Cyril Ramaphosa D] Mmusi Maimane

South African lawmakers have re-elected Cyril Ramaphosa as the president of the country. The African National Congress party with 57.5% of the vote has won 230 out of 400 seats in the election on May 8.

2. On which date, the 2019 edition of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is celebrated?

A] May 22 C] May 23

B] May 24 D] May 21

The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is observed every year on May 21 to increase the understanding of issues around cultural diversity and development among governments, non-governmental organizations and the public.

The day was created as a result of the destruction of the Buddha statues of Bamiyan in Afghanistan in 2001. This year, in 2019, the UAE has celebrated the day to highlight its efforts in promoting tolerance and cultural diversity.

The event will coincide with the country’s declaration of 2019 as the Year for Tolerance and its hosting of many related events. The UAE has cultural relations with many countries and is an active member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

3. Surya Prakash, who passed away recently, was the renowned artist from which state?

A] Karnataka B] Telangana

C] Kerala D] Andhra Pradesh

Surya Prakash (79), a well-known artist from Telangana, has passed away in Hyderabad on May 21, He received ‘Kala Vibhushan’ award & other honours.

4. Which of the following banks has tied up with FMCG arm of The Art of Living?

A] SBI B] PNB

C] BoB D] BoI

The State Bank of India (SBI) has announced a strategic partnership with the FMCG arm of The Art of Living — Sri Sri Tattva.

Under this partnership, YONO users can avail a discount of 15% on the entire range of products offered by Sri Sri Tattva such as food, personal care, healthcare, homecare, BYOGI apparels and Shankara skincare products.

Sri Sri Tattva will make YONO's online marketplace richer with product portfolio in the organic, wellness and Ayurvedic domains, giving SBI customers formidable shopping experience.

5. Chancy Chitete, who has been conferred with the 2019 UN’s highest peacekeeping award, was from which country?

A] Malawi B] Nigeria

C] Zambia D] Egypt

Late Malawian soldier Chancy Chitete has been posthumously conferred with the UN’s highest peacekeeping award - Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage - The award will be given during the 2019 International Day of UN Peacekeepers commemorations at UN Headquarters in New York on May 24.

In November 2018, Chitete was killed in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during an operation in the eastern part of the country to combat the ADF, an



2019 MAY 24

CURRENT AFFAIRS 2

armed force that had been terrorizing civilians and disrupting the UN’s ongoing efforts to treat, and halt, the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.

The award was established in 2014 for uniformed and civilian personnel who meet the criteria and is named after the late UN peacekeeper Captain Diagne, who saved hundreds of lives in Rwanda in 1994, before being killed.

6. What is the India’s rank in the 2019 KidsRight Index?

A] 117th C] 100th

B] 111th D] 104th

India has been ranked 117th out of 181 countries in the 2019 KidsRight Index, which ranks countries on the basis of how much they are involved and equipped to improve child rights.

Iceland made the top position with an overall score of 0.967, followed by Portugal, and Switzerland. The annual global index is an initiative of Kids Right Foundation in cooperation with Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

They release annual reports every year by pooling data from UNICEF, UNDP & UN Committee on Rights of the Child by considering individual country reports.

The index consists of five categories - Right to Life, Right to Health, Right to Education, Right to Protection, and Enabling Environment for Child Rights.

7. Who has become the India’s first woman fighter pilot to qualify to undertake combat missions?

A] Avani Chaturvedi C] Mohana Singh

B] Bhawana Kanth D] Sunaina Rajput

Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth, who belongs to Darbhanga (Bihar), has created history by becoming the India’s first female fighter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to qualify to undertake combat missions for day operations on a fighter aircraft.

This comes after she completed her day operational training as a fighter pilot on the MiG-21 Bison aircraft. At present, Bhawana is posted at the Nal base in Bikaner, where she will operate the aircraft with her squadron.

The MiG-21 is the oldest frontline combat jet in service with the Indian Air Force, having first entered service in 1964. The jet has been regularly upgraded since then. The MiG-21 "Bison" is the definitive variant of the legacy fighter.

8. Which of the following international organizations has decided to provide $750 million loan to India for railway track electrification project?

A] IMF C] World Bank

B] AIIB D] ADB

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed an agreement to provide long-term financing of $750 million equivalent in Indian rupees to fund the Railways track electrification project.

It is the largest single non-sovereign loan ever committed by ADB to Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) to electrify railway tracks in India. It is part of a broad modernisation programme that will help the railways transition to electric power and move away from dependence on fossil fuels.

IRFC will use the loan proceeds to install electric traction equipment along approximately 3,378 km of existing railway lines, which will enable the migration of passenger and freight traffic from diesel to electric traction. The electrification assets will be leased to the Indian Railways under a long-term lease agreement.

9. What is the theme of the 2019 edition of World Hypertension Day?

A] Awareness of high blood pressure

B] Know your numbers

C] Treat to goal


2019 MAY 24

CURRENT AFFAIRS 3

D] Healthy diet, healthy blood pressure

The World Hypertension Day is observed every year on May 17 to spread awareness about the disease that the World Health Organisation (WHO) calls a “silent killer” and “global public health issue”.

The 2019 theme is "Know your numbers". Hypertension or high blood pressure is a condition in which there is long-term high force of blood against artery walls. The force is high enough to cause numerous health problems like heart disease and stroke.

10. Vijaya Mulay, who passed away recently, was the renowned personality of which field?

A] Photography B] Sports

C] Film Industry D] Journalism

Vijaya Mulay (98), the renowned filmmaker and film historian, has passed away at her south Delhi residence on May 19, 2019. Mulay founded the Delhi Film Society in 1959.


2019 MAY 25 & 26

CURRENT AFFAIRS 1


1. Which German payments company has teamed up with India to issue PAN cards?

A] Wirecard B] Paysafe Group

C] Klarna D] Atos

German payments company Wirecard has teamed up with India to simplify the process of issuing tax identity cards required to open bank accounts, transfer money or complete business transactions.

The deal, with state company UTI Infrastructure Technology and Financial Services, seeks to widen the distribution of so-called PAN cards in the country of 1.3 billion where most people still live and work in the informal economy.

Munich-based Wirecard, founded in 1999, runs a digital payments platform that handles payments for merchants and issues real and ‘virtual’ payment cards to consumers.

2. Which international organization has unveiled a new strategy to tackle global snakebite “Emergency”?

A] ILO C] UNESCO

B] FAO D] WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled a new strategy to dramatically cut deaths and injuries from snakebites. Each year, nearly 3 million people are bitten by poisonous snakes, with an estimated 81,000-138,000 deaths.

The aim of the strategy is to cut snakebite-related deaths and disabilities in half by 2030. An important part of the strategy is to significantly boost production of quality anti-venoms.

The strategy also called for integrating snakebite treatment and response into national health plans in affected countries, including better training of health personnel and educating communities.

Snake venom can cause paralysis that stops breathing, bleeding disorders that can lead to fatal haemorrhage, irreversible kidney failure and tissue damage that can cause permanent disability and limb loss.

Most snakebite victims live in the world's tropical and poorest regions, and children are worse affected due to their smaller body size.

3. The NewSpace India Ltd. (NSIL) is the new commercial arm of which of the following organizations?

A] DRODO B] VSSC

C] BARC D] ISRO

On May 23, the NewSpace India Ltd. (NSIL) has officially inaugurated in Bengaluru, Karnataka to scale up industry participation in Indian space programmes. It is the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

NSIL will act as an aggregator for all space related activities in industry and develop private entrepreneurship in space related technologies.

Specifically, it will be responsible for manufacturing the production of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) through technology transfer mechanisms.

4. Which space agency has unveiled schedule for 'Artemis' 2024 Moon mission?

A] CNES B] JAXA

C] Roscosmos D] NASA

NASA has recently unveiled the calendar for the “Artemis” program that will return astronauts to the Moon for the first time in half a century. It will also include 8 scheduled launches and a mini-station in lunar orbit by 2024.



2019 MAY 25 & 26

CURRENT AFFAIRS 2

The original lunar missions were named for Apollo –Artemis was his twin sister in Greek mythology, and the goddess of hunting, wilderness and the Moon. The acronym ‘ARTEMIS’ stands for ‘Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence, and Electrodynamics of the Moon's Interaction with the Sun’.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine confirmed that Artemis 1 will be an uncrewed mission around the Moon planned for 2020. Next will come Artemis 2, which will orbit Earth’s satellite with a crew around 2022; followed finally by Artemis 3 that will put astronauts on lunar soil in 2024, including the first woman. All the three will be launched into space by the Boeing-led Space Launch System (SLS), the biggest rocket of all time.

5. Which of the following organizations has successfully flight tested Inertial Guided Bomb (IGB) from Sukhoi combat jet?

A] BARC B] MARCOS

C] DRDO D] VSSC

On May 24, the Defence Research and Defence Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested a 500 kg class Inertial Guided Bomb (IGB) from Su-30 MKI Aircraft from the Pokhran test range in Rajasthan. The guided bomb achieved the desired range and hit the target with high precision.

The test firing of the guided bomb came two days after the Indian Air Force successfully test fired the aerial version of the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile from a Sukhoi jet at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The 2.5 tonne air-to-surface missile has a range of around 300 km, and it will significantly enhance the IAF’s combat capability. The BrahMos cruise missile travels at a speed of Mach 2.8, nearly three times that of sound.

6. Which Russian-made aircraft of Indian Air Force (IAF) has formally certified to operate on indigenous Bio-Jet fuel?

A] AN – 32 C] AN – 31

B] AN – 35 D] AN – 33

The workhorse of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Russian made AN-32 transport aircraft was formally fleet certified to fly on a blended bio-jet fuel partly derived from trees. The fuel will be 10% tree-derived and 90% conventional aviation fuel.

The IAF has plans to widen the experiment over the next two years. The approval for use of bio-fuel to fly the Russian made fleet was given by the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC).

The indigenous bio-jet fuel was first produced by the CSIR-IIP lab at Dehradun in 2013, but could not be tested or certified for commercial use on aircraft due to lack of test facilities in the civil aviation sector.

7. On which date, the 2019 edition of World Turtle Day is observed recently?

A] May 21 C] May 22

B] May 23 D] May 24

The World Turtle Day is observed every year on May 23 across the world to protect turtles and their disappearing habitats around the world.

This year, in 2019, the India Biodiversity Portal (IBP) initiated a “Turtle Spotting Week (May 17 to May 23)” as part of a unique exercise to document the creatures across India. The initiative aims to gather information about India’s freshwater turtles and tortoises.

8. Who has been sworn-in as the new President of Ukraine?

A] Volodymyr Zelensky C] Viktor Yushchenko

B] Leonid Kravchuk D] Petro Poroshenko


2019 MAY 25 & 26

CURRENT AFFAIRS 3

In Ukraine, comedian and political newcomer Volodymyr Zelensky has been sworn-in as the new President of war-torn country.

He starred in the long-running satirical drama ‘Servant of the People’ in which his character accidentally becomes Ukraine's president. He plays a teacher who is elected after his expletive-laden rant about corruption goes viral on social media.

He ran under a political party with the same name as his show. Despite this, he stormed to victory and won 73% of the vote.

9. RBI has allowed modern currency chests to hike service charges from the existing rate of Rs 5 per packet of 100 pieces to ____?

A] Rs 8 B] Rs 11

C] Rs 7 D] Rs 10

The Reserve Bank of India has allowed large modern currency chests to increase the service charges on cash deposited by non-chest bank branches from the existing rate of Rs. 5 per packet of 100 pieces to a higher rate subject to a maximum of Rs. 8 per packet.

For this, only a Currency Chest (CC) that fulfils the minimum standards will be eligible to be classified as a large modern CC. The increased rates can be charged only after such classification by the issue office concerned.

10. India has banned terror outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) under which anti-terror law?

A] POTA B] NSA

C] AFSPA D] UAPA

Bangladesh-based terror outfit — the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) — was banned by the Government of India (GoI) under the anti-terror law UAPA. The terror out fit is also called as Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen India / Hindustan.

The Union Home Ministry stated that the outfit has committed acts of terrorism, promoted acts of terrorism and has been engaged in radicalization and recruitment of youths for terrorist activities in India.

Therefore, the JMB and all its manifestations have been inserted in the First Schedule to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) of 1967. The listing under the First Schedule of the UAPA means the outfit is now a banned organisation in India.


2019 MAY 27

CURRENT AFFAIRS 1


1. What is the theme of the 2019 edition of International Day for Biological Diversity?

A] Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism

B] Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health

C] Biodiversity for Sustaining People & their Livelihoods

D] Biodiversity for Sustainable Development

The International Day for Biological Diversity is observed every year on 22 May to increase understanding and awareness about biodiversity issues on a global scale.

The 2019 theme “Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health” is meant to leverage knowledge and spread awareness of the dependency of our food systems, nutrition, and health on biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.

2. Which of the following countries has been officially recognized as malaria-free in the WHO African Region?

A] Nigeria C] Morocco

B] Tanzania D] Algeria

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially recognized Algeria and Argentina as malaria-free countries, after no new cases of the deadly disease have been reported for at least 3 consecutive years. As per WHO, there were now 38 countries and territories that have been declared free of the disease.

Algeria, where the malaria parasite was discovered by French physician Dr. Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran in 1880, is only the second country in Africa to reach this milestone. The other is Mauritius, which was recognized as malaria-free in 1973.

Argentina is the 2nd country in 45 years to be officially recognized as malaria-free in the WHO Region of the Americas, after Paraguay in June 2018. Malaria is a parasitic disease transmitted through the bite of

female Anopheles mosquitoes. The disease is both preventable and treatable.

3. Chagos Archipelago is located in which of the following oceans?

A] Atlantic Ocean B] Pacific Ocean

C] Indian Ocean D] Arctic Ocean

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has officially passed a resolution demanding the United Kingdom withdraw its administration of the Chagos Islands.

The resolution welcomed the February 25, 2019 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legal consequences of the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965. It ruled that the UK’s decolonisation of the Indian Ocean islands was unlawful.

It must be noted that UK retained possession of the Chagos archipelago after Mauritius gained its independence in 1968. The islands have since been used for defence purposes by the UK and the United States, which established a military base on the island of Diego Garcia.

The entire Chagossian population was forcibly removed from the territory between 1967 and 1973, and prevented from returning. The Chagos Archipelago is a group of 7 atolls consists of more than 60 individual tropical islands in the Indian Ocean about 500 km south of the Maldives archipelago.

4. The 2019 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers was held in which of the following cities?

A] Bishkek B] New Delhi

C] Beijing D] Moscow

On May 21, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended a two-day meeting of the 2019 Shanghai



2019 MAY 27

CURRENT AFFAIRS 2

Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Ms. Swaraj took up terror strikes at Pulwama and Sri Lanka and urged member nations of SCO for greater counter-terror cooperation. She said that India is open to strengthen the Regional Anti-Terror Structure (RATS) of SCO to fight terrorism and security challenges in the region.

She added that SCO must support the member countries’ candidatures for the non-permanent membership of UNSC for the years 2021-2022 and 2027-2028. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Along with India, Pakistan was also granted the SCO membership in 2017.

5. What is the theme of the 2019 edition of World Bee Day?

A] Join hands to Protect Bees

B] Save the Bees

C] Praise Bees & their working

D] Save Bees, Save Ecosystem

The World Bee Day is celebrated every year on May 20 to acknowledge the role of bees and other pollinators for the ecosystem.

It provides an opportunity for governments, organizations, civil society and concerned citizens everywhere to promote actions that will protect and enhance pollinators and their habitats, improve their abundance and diversity, and support the sustainable development of beekeeping.

20 May coincides with the birthday of Anton Janaa, who in the 18th century pioneered modern beekeeping techniques in his native Slovenia and praised the bees for their ability to work so hard, while needing so little attention.

6. Who has become the first black African woman to conquer Mt. Everest in her fourth attempt?

A] Taytu Betul C] Dambisa Moyo

B] Phuti Malabie D] Saray Khumalo

Saray Khumalo, a Zambia-born Johannesburg resident, has become the first black African women to conquer the summit of Mount Everest, with an elevation of 8,848m, in her fourth attempt.

She uses her expeditions to raise funds for libraries and support children's educational activities in Africa. So far, she has managed to raise about $80,000 for children's education and libraries. She also supports a foundation that takes care of orphans, providing them with education, shelter and food.

Khumalo has also climbed Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Aconcagua in Argentina and Mt. Elbrus in Russia In 2003, South African park ranger Sibusiso Vilane became the 1st black person to summit Mt. Everest.

7. Which Indian doctor has been honoured with the 'Global Asian of the Year 2018-19' award at the Asian Business & Social Forum 2019?

A] Kamini Rao C] SI Padmavati

B] Hema Divakar D] Kadambani Ganguly

Dr. Hema Divakar, a Bengaluru-based medical doctor, has been honoured with the ‘Global Asian of the Year 2018-19’ award in Dubai recently for her yeomen services and contributions to the women's healthcare ecosystem, in India.

Dr. Divakar received the award at the Asian Business & Social Forum 2019 under the 'In Service of the Society and the Nation' category from UAE's Trade Promotion Director Mohammed Naser Hamdan Al Zaabi.


2019 MAY 27

CURRENT AFFAIRS 3

8. Which Indian scientist has won the 2019 German chemistry prize at the 4th Green and Sustainable Chemistry Conference?

A] Siva Umapathy C] B Sesikeran

B] Ankur Patwardhan D] S Chandrasekhar

In Germany, the international competition ‘Elsevier Foundation-ISC3 Green and Sustainable Chemistry Challenge’ was recently held at the 4th Green and Sustainable Chemistry Conference.

In it, a project idea by Dr. Ankur Patwardhan from Pune has bagged the second prize of €25,000. His project named ‘Butterfly attractant for pollination and ecosystem health’ is about the relation between chemistry and ecosystem.

Dr. Patwardhan is currently working as head of the ‘Annasaheb Kulkarni Biodiversity Department’ at Abasaheb Garware College, Pune. He developed the project idea with the help of Tejaswini Pachpor and Dattatray Naik. Patwardhan serves as a member of the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board.

9. Which of the following football teams has clinched the 2019 Indian Women’s League?

A] Manipur Police

B] FC Alakhpura

C] Gokulam Kerala

D] Sethu FC

Sethu FC has clinched their first ever Indian Women's League trophy after defeating Manipur Police 3-1 at the Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana on May 22, 2019. The Sethu FC is an Indian women’s football club based in Tamil Nadu.

The Indian Women's League is the top division women's professional football league in India. The 2018-19 season is the 3rd season of the Indian Women's League. The league is ran by the All India Football Federation.

10. What is the India’s GDP forecast in FY 20, as per latest UN-WESP 2019 Mid-year Update?

A] 7.4% B] 7.3%

C] 7.1% D] 7.2%

The United Nations (UN) has recently released the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2019 Mid-year Update.

In it, the UN has lowered its forecast for India’s GDP growth in 2019-20 to 7.1% from its estimate in January of 7.5%, citing an overall slowdown in global growth.

The report stated that the global economy is experiencing a broad-based growth slowdown led by slowing industrial production coupled with the weakening of international trade activity due in large part to the unresolved trade disputes between the U.S. and China.

Overall, the UN lowered its growth forecast for South Asia marginally to 5.8% in 2020 from the 5.9% estimated for the year in January.


2019 MAY 28

CURRENT AFFAIRS 1


1. Which of the following teams has clinched the 2019 Sudirman Cup badminton tournament?

A] Germany B] South Korea

C] Japan D] China

On May 26, China clinched the badminton world mixed-team championship at the 16th edition of the Sudirman Cup 2019 in the Chinese city of Nanning. They beat Japan in men’s doubles, women's singles and men’s singles to clinch the title for an 11th time.

In the latest Men singles match Shi Yuqi stunned world champion Kento Momota 15-21, 21-5, 21-11. Japan has never lifted the mixed-team world championship since it began in 1989.

2. Which Indian personality has been awarded the 2019 Dr. Lee Jong-wook Prize for public health?

A] Nikhil Kumar C] Balram Bhargava

B] Amit Sharma D] Asha Kishore

Cardiologist Prof. Balram Bhargava has won the 2019 Dr Lee Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health at the 72nd World Health Assembly in Geneva.

He bagged the award for his achievements as a clinician, innovator, researcher and trainer. Prof. Bhargava is the Director-General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

In cooperation with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and a devoted follower group of more than 100 young innovators, his work on developing low-cost devices is already saving thousands of lives.

3. The delegation of which union ministry represented India at the 2019 SCO Mass Media Forum at Bishkek?

A] Ministry of External Affairs

B] Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

C] Ministry of Human Resource Development

D] Ministry of Finance

The 2nd edition of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Mass Media Forum was held at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan from 23-26 May, 2019.

A delegation from I & B Ministry represented India at the Forum. The Forum was inaugurated by the President of Kyrgyz Republic Mr. S. Jeenbeko.

The President in his inaugural address highlighted the importance of Mass Media organizations of SCO countries in accomplishing the SCO objectives of mutual trust, friendly relations with neighbors and regional security in line with the “Shanghai Spirit”.

The Forum aims to strengthen the exchange and cooperation in the field of mass media amongst SCO countries.

4. Which Indian personality has received the UNSDG 10 Most Influential People in Healthcare Award?

A] Prakash Javadekar B] Harsh Vardhan

C] Baba Ramdev D] Acharya Balkrishna

Acharya Balkrishna, the Managing Director of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd., has received the ‘UNSDG 10 Most Influential People in Healthcare Award’ on behalf of Patanjali Group of Institutions in Geneva, Switzerland.

Balkrishna was among keynote speakers of the UNSDG (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) organisation. The others are Randy Oostra, UNICEF executive director Henrietta H Fore, WHO director-general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Abe Lee.

Patanjali Ayurved produces a range of Ayurvedic medicinal and personal care products, among other consumer items. The company was co-founded by Baba Ramdev and Balkshrina.



2019 MAY 28

CURRENT AFFAIRS 2

5. On which date, the 2019 edition of World Thyroid Day is observed?

A] May 27 B] May 25

C] May 26 D] May 24

The World Thyroid Day is observed every year on May 25 to promote awareness and understanding of thyroid health and the advances made in treating thyroid diseases.

The thyroid gland is an important part of the body and is extremely important as it regulates metabolism, affects energy levels, crucial body functions, and heart rate.

Abnormalities in the thyroid gland can lead to excess production of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), less production of the thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), goitre (enlargement of the thyroid gland) and thyroid cancer.

6. Which of the following countries have started the first-of-its-kind naval drill exercise ‘Pacific Vanguard’?

A] Japan, South Korea & Australia

B] Russia, China & Turkey

C] India, Australia & United States

D] United States, New Zealand & Canada

The naval drill exercise ‘Pacific Vanguard’ has been kick started by the United States, Japan, South Korea and Australia near Guam, United States. This drill brings together more than 3,000 sailors from the four countries to sharpen skills and strengthen practical cooperation at sea.

The drills will focus on live fire exercises, defensive counter-air operations, anti-submarine warfare, and replenishment at sea.

The Royal Australian Navy contributed two frigates to the exercise - HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Parramatta. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force sent

destroyers - JS Ariake and JS Asahi, and South Korea the Republic of Korea Navy destroyer ROKS Wang Geon. The USS Blue Ridge, the Seventh Fleet’s flagship, will lead the operation from the U.S. side.

Guam is home to more than 160,000 people, and was at the centre of nuclear tensions between Washington and Pyongyang in 2017, with North Korea threatening to hit the US territory with “enveloping fire”.

7. Who won the 2019 Dylan Thomas prize?

A] Zoe Gilbert C] Novuyo Rosa Tshuma

B] Guy Gunaratne D] Sarah Perry

The British-Sri Lankan human rights documentary maker- turned debut novelist, Guy Gunaratne has won the 2019 £30,000 Swansea University International Dylan Thomas prize for his debut novel ‘In Our Mad and Furious City’.

It is the fictional account of 48 hours in a North London housing estate after the murder of a British soldier. Gunaratne is a human rights documentary maker-turned-debut novelist. The £30,000 Prize is awarded to the best published literary work in the English language, written by an author aged 39 or under.

8. Which of the following films has been choreographed by Veeru Devgan, who passed away recently?

A] Muqaddar Ka Sikandar C] Don

B] Mr. India D] All of the above

Veeru Devgan (85), veteran action choreographer and father of Ajay Devgan, has passed away in Mumbai, Maharashtra on May 27, 2019.

He choreographed action scenes in more than 80 films such as Hindustan Ki Kasam, Mr. India and Mr. Natwarlal (1993). He also acted in films like Kranti, Saurabh and Singhasan.


2019 MAY 28

CURRENT AFFAIRS 3

9. Who has been sworn-in as the new chief minister of Sikkim?

A] Arun Uperti B] Kunga Nima Lepcha

C] Prem Singh Tamang D] Sonam Lama

Prem Singh Tamang, the president of Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and popularly known as P S Golay, has been sworn-in as the new chief minister of Sikkim. Governor Ganga Prasad administered the oath of office to Mr. Golay in a grand ceremony at the Palzor stadium in Gangtok.

Mr. Golay is not a member of the state assembly at present as he did not contest the polls. The SKM won 17 of the 32 legislative Assembly seats in the State in the recently held Assembly polls.

The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), which had ruled the State for 25 years, won 15. Mr. Golay succeeded Pawan Chamling of the SDF who has the record of longest-serving CM of the country, ruling the State for 5 consecutive terms for a little over 24 years.

10. Mahesh Mangaonkar is associated to which sports?

A] Tennis B] Badminton

C] Chess D] Squash

In squash, Mahesh Mangaonkar from India has clinched the Sekisui Open title for the second time in his career in Kriens, Switzerland on May 25, 2019.

In the final, Top-seeded Mahesh beat third seed Bernat Jaume of Spain in four games 11-9, 3-11, 11-5, 11-5. He had won the corresponding title for the first time in 2016. Sekisui Open is a Challenger tour event of the Professional Squash Association.


2019 MAY 29

CURRENT AFFAIRS 1


1. Which site of Madhya Pradesh has been included in the tentative list of UNESCO World heritage sites?

A] Maheswar B] Orchha

C] Ujjain D] Khandwa

The architectural heritage of Orchha town in Madhya Pradesh has been included in UNESCO’s tentative list of world heritage sites following a proposal sent by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to the U.N. body.

According to the rules, to be a part of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites, the heritage or any historical site first has to be on the tentative list. Orchha town is situated on the banks of the Betwa River in Niwari district of MP’s Bundelkhand region.

The town was built by King Rudra Pratap Singh of Bundela dynasty in the 16th century. The ancient town is famous for its Chaturbhuj Temple, Orchha fort complex, Raja Mahal among others.

2. Which country has launched the world's largest nuclear-powered icebreaker ‘Ural’?

A] United States C] France

B] Germany D] Russia

Russia has recently launched the third and final Project 22220 LK-60Ya-class nuclear-powered icebreaker – the Ural - at the Baltic Shipyard in St Petersburg to open up Arctic shipping routes.

The ship is one of a trio that when completed will be the largest and most powerful icebreakers in the world. It is part of an ambitious programme to renew and expand its fleet of the vessels in order to improve its ability to tap the Arctic’s commercial potential.

The Ural will eventually be handed over to Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation Rosatom in 2022 after the two other icebreakers in the same series - Arktika (Arctic) and Sibir (Siberia) - enter service.

The main task for the Project 22220 icebreakers will be to clear passages for ship traffic on the Northern Sea route, which runs along the Russian Arctic coast from the Kara Sea to the Bering Strait.

As per estimated of U.S. Geological Survey, the Arctic holds oil and gas reserves equivalent to 412 billion barrels of oil, about 22% of the world's undiscovered oil and gas.

3. Where is the headquarters of United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)?

A] Nairobi B] Paris

C] New York D] Berlin

The first session of the UN-Habitat Assembly has started at the headquarters of UN-Habitat in Nairobi, Kenya on May 27, 2019. In it, India has been elected to the Executive Board of the UN-Habitat Assembly.

The special theme for 2019 Assembly is ‘Innovation for a better quality of life in cities and communities' with the sub theme of ‘Accelerated Implementation of the New Urban Agenda towards achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals’.

The 5-day Assembly will be attended by four Heads of State, over 40 ministers and high-level representatives from 116 countries with over 3,000 delegates attending.

During the first session, The Assembly is expected to review and approve the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2020-2025 and also review the Progress in implementation of New Urban Agenda, among other things.

4. Rahi Sarnobat, who booked 2020 Tokyo Olympic quota for India, is associated to which sports?

A] Shooting B] Badminton

C] Wrestling D] Sprint



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Rahi Sarnobat booked an Olympic quota place for India at World Cup rifle pistol stage in Munich, Germany by winning gold in women's 25m pistol event.

Asian Games champion Rahi clinched her career's second World Cup Gold, which helped India win its sixth quota place in shooting for 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Now, India tops the Munich World Cup medals tally with three gold. China is at 2nd position with one gold, one silver and three bronze.

5. Kalpana Dash, who passed away recently, was the noted woman mountaineer of which state?

A] Uttarakhand B] Odisha

C] Himachal Pradesh D] Punjab

Kalpana Dash (50), the first woman mountaineer of Odisha, has passed away near Balcony area of world's highest peak Mount Everest on May 23, 2019. She had first scaled Mt Everest in 2008.

6. Which Indian Army officer has been appointed the commander of UN Mission in South Sudan?

A] Raghu Viswas B] Shailesh Tinaikar

C] Manjit Singh D] Narendra Singh Rathore

The commandant of the Indian Army Infantry School, Lieutenant General Shailesh Tinaikar has been appointed as the new Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

He succeeded Lieutenant General Frank Kamanzi of Rwanda who completes his assignment on May 26. India is the second highest troop contributing country to UNMISS with 2,337 Indian peacekeepers, second only to Rwanda with 2,750. In addition, India currently contributes 22 police personnel to UNMISS.

7. Which country to host an international conference against anti-Semitism in October 2020?

A] Sweden C] India

B] Japan D] China

In October 2020, Sweden will host an international conference against anti-Semitism in memory of the Holocaust.

The conference, which is scheduled to be held in Malmo, will coincide with two significant dates: the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Europe from Nazi rule and the 20th anniversary of the Stockholm Declaration, the founding document of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which assists with the commemoration and study of the Holocaust around the world.

Antisemitism is hostility to, prejudice, or discrimination against Jews.

8. Who is the head of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) tribunal for adjudicating ban on LTTE?

A] M K Sharma C] I S Mehta

B] Sangita Dhingra Sehgal D] V Kameswar Rao

The Union government has constituted the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal to adjudicate whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as an unlawful association.

The Tribunal is comprised of sitting Judge of Delhi High Court Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal. Earlier, the Home Ministry had issued a notification extending ban on LTTE in India for a further period of five years. LTTE was banned in India after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.

9. Who won the 2019 Formula One Monaco Grand Prix?

A] Valtteri Bottas B] Sebastian Vettel

C] Lewis Hamilton D] Max Verstappen

Lewis Hamilton, a British racing driver who races in Formula One for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, has won the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix with a perfectly measured drive.


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10. Which of the following redefined International System of Units has been introduced by CSIR-NPL?

A] Candela B] Mole

C] Metre D] Second

On 2019 World Meterology Day, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) has recently introduced redefined International System of Units for the country.

The redefined systems are Kilogram (SI unit of weight), Kelvin (SI unit of temperature), Mole (SI unit of amount of substance), and Ampere (SI unit of current). The purpose of a system of units is to enable world-wide coherence of measurements.

CSIR- NPL has also sent the new definitions to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MoHRD) for the engineering course syllabus and to National Council of Educational Research and Training for adoption in schools.

It must be noted that the world’s scientific community adopted the resolution to redefine four of the 7 base units during the open session of the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) at BIPM in November 2018.

Therefore, there is no change in the definition of three other SI units—second, metre and candela — which were defined based on natural constants.


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1. Murray Gell-Mann, who passed away recently, won 1969 Nobel Prize in which category?

A] Medicine B] Physics

C] Peace D] Chemistry

Murray Gell-Mann (89), a Jewish American physicist who theorized the existence of the quark and won a Nobel Prize for his method of classifying particles, has passed away in New Mexico on May 24, 2019.

He transformed physics by devising a method for sorting subatomic particles into simple groups of eight, based on electric charge, spin and other characteristics. He called his method the “8 fold way” after the Buddhist Eightfold Path to enlightenment.

2. Who is the head of the RBI committee to review mortgage securitisation?

A] Harsh Vardhan C] V G Kannan

B] Sajjid Z Chinoy D] Anand Srinivasan

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constituted a 6-member committee to review the existing state of mortgage securitisation in India and suggest measures to deepen it.

The committee on the development of housing finance securitisation market, headed by Bain & Co Senior Advisor Harsh Vardhan, will review the regulations relating to Mortgage-Backed Securitization (MBS) currently in place, and make specific recommendations on suitably aligning the same with international norms.

It will recommend specific measures for facilitating secondary market trading in mortgage securitisation instruments, such as broadening the investor base, and strengthening the market infrastructure.

3. Which of the following countries has been removed from US currency watchlist?

A] Italy B] South Korea

C] Japan D] Switzerland

The Trump administration has recently removed India and Switzerland from its currency monitoring list of major trading partners. Both the countries were removed from the list because for two consecutive reports they had both met only one of three criteria necessary for inclusion on the monitoring list.

The watch list contains the names of countries that have potentially questionable foreign exchange policies and are suspected to be manipulating their currencies to gain trade advantages over the US.

However, the list includes China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam among others.

4. Who has been sworn-in as the new President of Nigeria?

A] Muhammadu Buhari B] Mohd Hussain

C] Atiku Abubakar D] Yemi Osinbajo

President Muhammadu Buhari has been sworn-in for his second term as President of Nigeria in a ceremony at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

He won 56% of the votes to defeat his main rival Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 February election.

5. Who is the head of the RBI committee for secondary market in corporate loans?

A] Anand Srinivasan B] Bahram Vakil

C] Abizer Diwan D] T N Manoharan

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constituted a six-member task force, headed by Canara Bank chairman



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T.N. Manoharan, on the development of secondary market for corporate loans.

The terms of reference of the task force would include review of the existing state of the market for loan sale or transfer in India as well as the international experience in loan trading.

Further the task force will be required to make recommendations on required policy or regulatory interventions for facilitating development of secondary market in corporate loans, including loan transaction platform for stressed assets.

The task force has been asked to submit its report by the end of August 2019. In India, banks sell their stressed loans to the Asset Reconstruction Companies, but have practically no other alternatives.

However, globally, there is a healthy corporate loan market where banks can offload their stressed assets and those get traded.

6. Carmine Caridi, who passed away recently, was the renowned actor of which country?

A] Germany B] France

C] United States D] United Kingdom

Actor Carmine Caridi (85), who is best remembered for playing Carmine Rosato in “The Godfather: Part II” has passed away in California, United States on May 28.

7. What is the India’s rank in the 2019 edition of the IMD World Competitiveness Rankings?

A] 43rd C] 42nd

B] 44th D] 41st

India has been ranked 43rd most competitive economy in the 2019 edition of the IMD World Competitiveness Rankings on the back of its robust economic growth, a large labour force and its huge market size.

In the 2019 rankings, India has scored well on several economic parameters and tax policies but has lagged

in terms of public finance, societal framework, education infrastructure, health and environment. Singapore has topped the index, followed by Hong Kong SAR and United States.

The IMD World Competitiveness Rankings, established in 1989, incorporate 235 indicators from each of the 63 ranked economies.

8. Who has been bestowed with the lifetime recognition Award by the Confederation of Horticulture Association of India?

A] Harpreet Kaur C] Mrinal Saxena

B] Vijay Sen D] N Kumar

N Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), has been conferred the lifetime recognition award by the Confederation of Horticulture Association of India at the International Conference on Innovative horticulture at Pantnagar, Uttarakhand on May 28, 2019.

The award has been conferred for his outstanding contribution in the field of horticulture and academic leadership focussed on human resource development in agriculture.

9. Who has been sworn-in as the new Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea?

A] James Marape B] Sam Abal

C] Michael Somare D] Peter O'Neill

On 30 May 2019, James Marape has been nominated, elected, and sworn-in as the 8th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. He is a former finance minister and critic of a major global gas development deal. His appointment comes after the outgoing leader Peter O'Neill resigned recently.

Papua New Guinea is a South Pacific nation of 7.3 million people. It has rich reserves of copper, gold, and oil, but development has been hampered by public order issues, rugged terrain and disputes over land.


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10. The Union Environment Ministry has launched the theme song 'Hawa Aane De' to spread awareness about Air pollution. It is written by which of the following lyricists?

A] Prasoon Joshi B] Kausar Munir

C] Vairamuthu Ramasamy D] Swanand Kirkire

To celebrate 2019 World Environment Day (WED), the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) has recently launched the song 'Hawa Aane De' to spread awareness about Air pollution.

The theme song is written by Swanand Kirkire and sung by Shantanu Mukherjee, Kapil Sharma, Sunidhi Chauhan and Shankar Mahadevan. The film has been directed by Romanchak Arora.

Every year, Union Environment Ministry celebrates WED focusing on the theme declared by UNEP and organizes several events. This year, the theme of Environment Day is ‘Air Pollution’.

It is noteworthy that to combat air pollution, MoEFCC has recently launched the National Clean Air programme (NCAP) which is a mid-term 5 Year Action Plan with targets of 20-30% reduction of PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentration in 102 cities, out of which 84 cities have already submitted their action plan. The main objective of NCAP is to control and abate air pollution across the country.


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1. What is the focus theme of the 2019 edition of World No Tobacco Day?

A] Tobacco and lung health

B] Tobacco and heart disease

C] Tobacco – a threat to development

D] Stop Illicit Trade of Tobacco Products

The World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is observed every year on May 31 to create awareness about the negative impacts of tobacco consumption on human health. The focus theme of 2019 edition of WNTD is on “Tobacco and lung health”.

The campaign will increase awareness on: the negative impact that tobacco has on people’s lung health, from cancer to chronic respiratory disease, the fundamental role lungs play for the health and well-being of all people.

On the occasion, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India organized a national consultation on tobacco and lung health in New Delhi. The consultation, organized in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO). Theme of the event was “Don’t Let Tobacco Take Your Breath Away - Choose Health Not Tobacco”.

2. The scientists at which US University have developed a new prosthetic foot to help tackle tough terrain?

A] Harvard University C] Stanford University

B] University of California D] Clemson University

The scientists at the Stanford University in the US have developed a more stable prosthetic foot which they say could make challenging terrain more manageable for people who have lost a lower leg.

The new design has a kind of tripod foot that responds to rough terrain by actively shifting pressure between three different contact points

According to the study published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, prosthetic limbs can better handle the rough ground.

3. Who has taken charge as the new Chief of the Naval Staff?

A] Kirath Singh B] Karambir Singh

C] Siddharth Rajput D] Bimal Verma

Admiral Karambir Singh has taken charge as the 24th Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) from Adm. Sunil Lanba, who stepped down upon retirement. He is the first helicopter pilot of the Navy to become the CNS.

Prior to this post, Adm. Singh was the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of the Eastern Naval Command, headquartered in Visakhapatnam.

During his long and distinguished service spanning nearly 39 years, Adm. Singh has served in a variety of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. The tenure of a Service Chief is three years or 62 years of age, whichever is earlier.

4. Which state police has decided to use laser guns to crack down on over-speeding?

A] Tamil Nadu B] Punjab

C] Gujarat D] Kerala

The Gujarat government has decided to equip the traffic police with ‘laser guns’ for detection of over-speeding by vehicles. The state traffic police has purchased 39 such high-tech guns at a cost of Rs.3.9 crore.

The gun uses laser technology to detect the speed of a vehicle. It can record speed of three vehicles simultaneously in a second, even if the vehicles are a km away.



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5. Which IIT has launched Integrated Database on Infrastructure Projects (IDIP)?

A] IIT-Delhi B] IIT-Indore

C] IIT-Madras D] IIT-Bombay

The IIT-Madras has recently launched an Integrated Database on Infrastructure Projects (IDIP) at the 15th World Conference on Transport Research conference held at IIT Bombay.

The purpose of the data platform is to enhance the efficiency of infrastructure development and enable effective decision-making among different stakeholders involved in the sector.

The initial focus of IDIP will be on the road sector, which has received the highest private investment among all infrastructure sectors.

6. Which airport of Madhya Pradesh has been declared as International Airport?

A] Raja Bhoj Airport

B] Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia Air Terminal

C] Dumna Airport

D] Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport

In Madhya Pradesh, Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport of Indore has been declared as International Airport. It was given the International status as per sub-rule (b) of rule 3 of the Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950 by the Central Government.

The airport, named after Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore, is considered the busiest airport in the region. The Indore airport facilitates round the clock operations and was given its World Standardization Certificate by the UK.

An international airport has customs and border control facilities enabling passengers to travel between countries. Such airports are usually larger

than domestic airports and often feature longer runways.

7. Which IIT has recently tied up with ISRO to set up space technology?

A] IIT- Guwahati C] IIT- Bombay

B] IIT- Madras D] IIT- Kharagpur

The IIT- Guwahati has signed a MoU with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to set up a Space Technology Cell (STC) within the premise of IIT Guwahati.

The new IITG-ISRO STC would be first-of-its-kind in the North-east region to augment research and capacity building processes in the field of space-technology.

Through the STC, IIT Guwahati aspire to partner with ISRO for performing cutting edge research not only catering to the socio-economic needs of the Northeast but also to contribute towards the basic research activities of various ISRO projects across India.

8. Kudakrumia rangnekari, which is in news recently, is associated to which kind of species?

A] Ape C] Snake

B] Wasp D] None of the Above

Indians Scientists has recently identified a new species of primate wasp from the genus Kudakrumia in Goa. The new species was collected in the forests of Western Ghats. The wasp, which is dubbed as Kudakrumia rangnekari, was named after Goa-based researcher Parag Rangnekar.

Rangnekar is the author of a book “Butterflies of Goa”, which is perhaps a first field guide with photographs of the species found in this region.

His quest to document the butterflies of this unique region resulted in a record of 220 species, of which 13 species had not been described before. He is the founder – president of the Goa Bird Conservation Network.


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The holotype is from Kotigao Wildlife Sanctuary of Goa of northern Western Ghats and the paratype is from Ranipuram hill of Kerala of southern Western Ghats. A wasp is any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant.

9. Which of the following is/are the species of orangutans?

A] Bornean B] Sumatran

C] Tapanuli D] All of the above

India’s only orangutan, ‘Binny’, has passed away at the age of 41 at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Odisha. The great ape was brought to the Odisha zoo in November 2003 from Pune's Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park on November 20, 2003, when she was 25.

Orangutans are one of the world’s three extant species of great apes. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), there are three species of orangutans — Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli.

All three kinds of orangutans are listed as “Critically Endangered” by the United Nations-affiliated International Union for Conservation of Nature.

They are native to Indonesia and Malaysia and at present are found only in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. They can live up to 45 years in the wild and even more in zoos.

10. ISRO has signed pact with which Indian armed force for astronaut training?

A] Indian Air Force B] Indian Army

C] Indian Coast Guard D] Indian Navy

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have recently signed a MoU for getting Indian astronauts trained for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission.

The development formally involves IAF’s Bengaluru-based medical arm, the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), in the programme as the nodal centre to train the first set of Indian astronauts.

The Rs 10,000-crore Gaganyaan is planned for 2022, the 75th year of Indian independence. Gaganyaan (Sky Craft) is an Indian crewed orbital spacecraft intended to be the basis of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme.


Documents

FFAIRS CURRENT - WINMEEN · Here, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and two women Public Interest Litigators (PIL) Arundhati Katju and Menaka Guruswamy have been featured